Betrayed, profoundly disturbed and deeply concerned — those are just some of the words members of Ottawa’s Somali community are using to describe their reaction to allegations that the city’s police force secretly surveilled five Black officers.
Elders, mothers, youth and other community members and supporters gathered at the Somali Centre for Family Services (SCFS) Thursday to express their concerns and their condemnation of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS).
“We are deeply shocked and troubled by the alleged discriminatory surveillance and harassment of Somali officers and their families,” said Bille Abdalla, youth development manager at SCFS.
CBC was first to report on the $2.5-million lawsuit against OPS by five officers of Somali descent. The lawsuit alleges some of the officers’ family members were also wiretapped.
No charges were laid, and the officers say OPS refuses to tell them why they were under surveillance.
“It is both shocking and disheartening to learn that the Ottawa police chose to criminalize and investigate the various Somali officers who are meant to bridge the gap between [the OPS and] our community,” Abdalla said.
Speakers at Thursday’s news conference said the relationship between their community and the OPS, which has been building for 30 years, has now been set back.
“The community is so disappointed about what’s happening,” said Mohamoud Hagi-Aden, an elder.
Community calling for ‘decisive action’
The community is now calling for “immediate and decisive action” from OPS.
“Our community deserves a police force that is genuinely committed to service, equity and the protection of all of its members,” said Abdalla.
He said he wants to see an independent investigation into the allegations, with clear accountability for any identified misconduct toward the five officers and their families.
“They have to come forward, admit that they made a mistake and then do the necessary steps to repair the damage that they have done,” Hagi-Aden added.
He said despite the current distrust, Ottawa’s Somali community remains invested in a long-term relationship with the police service.
“We are not giving up. We are not going to walk away from this relationship.”
Lawsuit reveals ‘systemic issue’
Speakers said the lawsuit highlights a more serious issue with the way OPS treats racialized communities generally.
“The claims that OPS engaged in surveillance based on racial stereotypes and personal biases are not only alarming but reveal a systemic issue within the force,” Abdalla said.
Claudine Mitchell, president of the Jamaican Ottawa Community Association, attended the news conference to express her own community’s frustration.
“I am tired of every few months we’re calling a meeting to talk about the same issues,” she said. “[We’re] dealing with the same issues with no solution, no way forward. There comes a time when sorry doesn’t work anymore.
“When does it stop? When do we seriously start looking within itself and have a conversation on what’s really going on?”