AN ATMOSPHERE OF MISTRUST

West Enders Tell Stories Of Being Targeted By Police

TROUBLE is brewing in the West End as a number of area residents
claim they've been harassed by police, subjected to racial
stereotyping and picked up off the street without reason.

They've got the backing of Mayor Sam Katz who, after a three-hour
meeting with a group of disgruntled West Enders, said he believes
they're telling the truth.

"I heard some genuine concerns from the people there," Katz said
Friday. "When I heard some of the stories, disgusted would not be too
strong a word. Some of the stories were shocking to hear."

The West End has been the subject of massive police attention because
of Operation Clean Sweep, a highly successful police operation that
has seen 430 Criminal Code charges laid and more than $30,000 in drug
proceeds seized.

Even those residents who have an uneasy relationship with police
praise the results of the intense anti-crime campaign. Still, the
stories of harassment keep growing. They're stories like those told
by 42-year-old Victor Pierre, an aboriginal man who is convinced he
keeps getting stopped by police because of his race.

"I was driving my car and they saw me," he said yesterday. "They
turned around, followed me and pulled me over. They said it was
because the car was registered to a woman and I was driving."

Pierre, who has a criminal record, admits he's no saint. He still
believes he's entitled to walk down a city street and not be afraid
of being questioned by an officer.

"This is Canada. It's not right that it's assumed I've done something
wrong when I'm out for a walk."

The stories are all anecdotal but Katz says he knows there is
discrimination out there -- and he's determined to do something about it.

"Now that we are aware of this, let's move. I want to see a good
working relationship with every city department and our citizens."

He said he has no question some residents have been hassled.

"I listened very attentively and I believe I was being told the
truth," he said. "As the mayor, my objective is to make sure everyone
is treated the same."

The initial community meeting was held in late January. Katz has
scheduled a March 24 follow-up meeting at City Hall with a small
group of community representatives, police representation and city
staff. He doesn't know if police Chief Jack Ewatski, who was invited
to the first meeting but did not attend, will be at the next session.
Two police officers were present at the first meeting.

Katz said he has not had "direct conversation" with the chief about
his concerns.

"I have discussed it with members of the department," he said. "I
don't want to get into a debate. I acknowledge, yeah, there is a
problem. It doesn't matter if it happens once or 100 times."

Area resident Kathleen Booth, who organized the first meeting, said
she believes police view most people in the neighbourhood as
potential criminals. That's a bit of hyperbole, but her experiences
make her wary.

Her son, she said, was walking down the street when a police car
pulled up and told him to go home. Words were exchanged and the
21-year-old ended up in the back seat of the cruiser.

"The only thing he did wrong was go for a walk," Booth said.

She's convinced most police are decent and hard-working but that a
few bad apples are creating an atmosphere of mistrust in her
neighbourhood. She said most people just want to be treated with respect.

"It is awful. I am ashamed. I am embarrassed as a Canadian that there
are complete infringements on our human rights. The perception has
been well-established that the majority of people have criminal
intent. They don't. They just want to go about their business."

Booth and Katz are right. It doesn't matter if there's one incident
or 100, one cop who treats citizens poorly or 100. The overwhelming
majority of police officers are out there doing a tough job, one that
few of us would sign up for. They deserve our support and respect.
But if there is a minority, a few who have created an atmosphere of
mistrust and unease in the West End, they should be ferreted out and fired.

Because the citizens of the West End are correct: No Canadian,
regardless of ethnicity or income, should be afraid to walk down the street.