Original Article: CTV Kitchener
Chase Banger and Nicole Lampa
Published Friday, June 12, 2020 11:24AM ED
KITCHENER -- As anti-Black racism protests continue to sweep the world, a controversial mantra became an oft-repeated one: defund the police.
If you've never heard the term before, it might sound radical or cause your brow to furrow: defund the police? Then who will protect us?
The idea is not a new one. It calls for the reallocation of money
Original Article: The Record
LIZ MONTEIRO JUNE 12, 2020
WATERLOO REGION — The suggestion that now is the time to have someone from the Black community sit on the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board is insulting, says Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindo.
The community is at a critical point, calling for real change and investments in building healthy neighbourhoods, she said.
Sitting on a board of an institution that is not working for racialized co
Original Article: The Record
LAURA BOOTH JUNE 11, 2020
WATERLOO REGION — Public board trustee Scott Piatkowski will ask his colleagues for a review of the School Resource Officer program.
At Monday’s meeting, the Waterloo Region District School Board trustee will notify the board that he wants to bring forward a motion asking for a committee to be formed to review the police in schools program.
“We have received numerous emails on this subject from paren
Original Article: The Record
LIZ MONTEIRO JUNE 10, 2020
WATERLOO REGION — It’s time someone from the local Black community sat at the table of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board says police board chair Karen Redman.
Now is a good time to petition local MPPs and the provincial government to say “we would like a person of colour or a visible minority” to sit on the civilian oversight board, said Redman.
Currently, there is a vacant spo
Original Article: The Record
LUISA D’AMATO JUNE 10, 2020
Waterloo Regional Police Chief Bryan Larkin was asked to stay away from last week’s massive protest in downtown Kitchener against racism in law enforcement across North America.
Out of respect for the organizers, he did.
But now he is eager to start the sensitive conversations and difficult decisions that must follow.
For Larkin personally, there has been anger, sadness and frustration since th
