: Four Black Police Officers To Give Deposition on Racism with the York Regional Police Force

IT ALL WILL  HAPPEN WEDNESDAY LIVE ON YOUTUBE

On Wednesday, February 24, four Black York Regional Police Officers, and their lawyer will be appearing before the York Regional Police Services Board (YRPSB) to make a vitally important  deputation on matters of systemic racism and discrimination within the service.  The media is invited to attend and cover this important live online deputation that is being held during Black History Month.  

 

"The Deputation is an act of Bravery on the part of the officers who have been traumatized over many years. It is also an act of Bravery on the part of the York Region Police Service Board to  build bridges and address systemic racism,” explains the officers’ Counsel for Justice and Equity – Courtney Betty.  The goal is to make York Region a model for other Police Forces to follow."

“As a result of ongoing internal anti-Black racism conflicts, I have had with my employer for almost 10 years, I along with three other Black officers who have had the same complaints regarding YRP's differential treatment of its Black employees will be appearing before the York Regional Police Service Board to voice our concerns,” says  Police Constable Dameian Muirhead, “We will also be sharing intimate details about how this treatment has impacted our mental, physical and emotional health,” he continues. “Our close relatives have also been negatively impacted by these experiences.”

 

The officers who will speak on Wednesday morning are:

 

·      19-year veteran Detective Constable Neil Dixon. He is currently on leave as a result of suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, due to a near-death experience after a racial profiling incident involving two White YRP officers and a Sergeant.

·      Special Constable Vernley France has been with the force for 19-years. In 2015, he came forward to address the issues of racial discrimination and anti-Black racism in the workplace.  As a result of his coming forward, York Regional Police retaliated in the form of a series of  ongoing reprisals against the Caribbean Canadian constable.

·      Police Constable Dameian Muirhead is an 18-year veteran of the Service.  The Jamaican Canadian officer continues to endure various internal and external adversities while maintaining exemplary work performance as documented in all his formal work evaluations.  

·      The Fourth Officer, is identified as Police Constable ST

 

Normally held at  the York Region Administrative Centre’s chambers in Newmarket Wednesday’s deputation will be live online on Zoom and viewable by the media and the public on YouTube. 

 

The YRPSB is a seven-member civilian governing body mandated to oversee the police service. Expected to attend the hearing are members: Virginia Hackson (Chair, Mayor of East Gwillimbury), Maurizo Bevilacqua (Vice Chair, Mayor of Vaughan), Wayne Emmerson, Josh Cooper, Jennifer Fang, Walter Perchal and Norma McCullough. Mrs. McCullough is the only Black member of the Board; she  is currently a member of the Association of Black Law Enforcers.

There are 2,400 men and women working for the York Regional Police under the command of Chief Jim MacSween, Deputy Chiefs’ Brian Bigras, Paulo Da Silva, Cecile Hammond and Robertson Rouse.  Deputy Chief Rouse, a Trinidadian Canadian, is the only Black officer in the service's Upper Command

There are 1.2 million citizens living in York Region, 25,000 who self-identify as Black.

 

Further Information

For interviews, photographs and more detailed biographic information on the officers. Please contact

Stephen Weir,

Communications Consultation

416-489-5968, Stephen@stephenweir.com

@sweirsweir

 

York Regional Police Services Board Meeting:  February 24, 2021 –9:00 a.m.

To watch on live YouTube  https://youtu.be/WIVa251JYts

 

 

Dameian Muirhead - Media Alert - Hearing on Wednesday

MEDIA ALERT

 The disturbing Police Services case of Dameian Muirhead continues Wednesday in Aurora as community supporters prepare to attend a public York Regional Police Services Board  Meeting.  They will attempt to question the police chief about the treatment of Officer Muirhead.
Dameian Muirhead is a Jamaican Canadian police officer with ten years sterling service with the York Region Force. He is currently involved in a lengthy police displenary hearing for his conduct at an event in York Region. He is, in part, accused of misconduct over an investigation where racial slurs were yelled at him at a drunken farm party where a woman had been run over by a vehicle. As the Toronto Star reported "oddly, Muirhead, in part, is accused of not properly investigating the racial taunts made against him." He is also charged for not picking up a leather coat owned by a party goer at the racous party incident. The coat fell off a motorcycle when Officer Muirhead was checking its plate.

Supporters of Officer Muirhead plan to attend and asked questions the next public York Regional Police Services Board meeting which will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Supporters unable to attend will be sending questions and comments to the Board meeting via email.  Chief Eric Jolliffe and his senior staff will be attendance.

The public meeting will be held at:
York Region Administrative Building
... Committee Room A
17250 Yonge Street
Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 4W5

Issued by:

Stephen Weir
Stephen Weir & Associates | stephen@stephenweir.com
2482 Yonge Street, Unit 45032, Toronto, ONT.
CANADA. M4P 3E3
Tel: 416-489-5868 | cell: 416-801-3101
www.stephenweir.com twitter: sweirweir