Marcel Beaudin, a former head of Ontario Provincial Police, discusses strategies for handling protests, importance of Indigenous representation, and the evolution of policing strategies. He shares insights on challenges faced at the Ottawa Convoy, interactions with protesters, and the impact on morale.
Building relationships and dialogue with communities is crucial for a peaceful resolution to protests.
Balancing public safety and respecting demonstrators' rights requires discretion and impartiality from police.
Deep dives
The Role of Police in Policing Protests
Marcel Boden, the former head of the Ontario Provincial Police's Provincial Liaison Team, discusses how the police respond to protests over politically sensitive topics. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships with communities and working towards a peaceful resolution. He shares examples of how dialogue and communication have led to successful outcomes in protests and demonstrations. The goal is to ensure protests are lawful, peaceful, and safe, while minimizing the use of force.
The Challenges of Policing Protests
Boden highlights the complexities and challenges faced by police when dealing with protests. He mentions the need for discretion in enforcing the law and addressing illegal activities during protests. The goal is to balance public safety while respecting the rights of demonstrators. Boden emphasizes the importance of impartiality in policing, regardless of personal opinions or political leanings.
Lessons from Indigenous Protests
Boden discusses the lessons learned from Indigenous protests, such as the Iperwash occupation, which resulted in the formation of the Indigenous Police Bureau and the Major Event Liaison Team. These teams aim to handle protests in a more nuanced and dialogic manner. Boden mentions the importance of trust-building and collaboration with Indigenous leaders to ensure a respectful and inclusive approach to policing.
Applying Frameworks to Protests
Boden explains the pre, during, and post-event stages of policing protests. He highlights the need for proactive measures, such as building relationships, educating communities, and ensuring protests remain lawful, peaceful, and safe. Boden also emphasizes the role of dialogue, communication, and discretion in addressing protests effectively, reducing the use of force, and maximizing the chances of a peaceful resolution.
Police have been facing heavy scrutiny lately over how they handle protests, from the convoy in Ottawa to pro-Palestine demonstrations. OPP Acting Superintendent Marcel Beaudin shares the police perspective on this issue. Until recently, Beaudin ran the OPP’s Provincial Liaison team that deals with demonstrations and protests. He has also been a leader in the service’s Indigenous Policing Bureau.
This episode was recorded at the Munk School.
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