Defund OPS, Invest in Community Led Interventions

I've lived in Ottawa for 5 years now, and since living here I have seen and heard of the many ways OPS has harassed and brutalized Indigenous people, Black people, folks struggling with addiction, mental illness and those homeless on the streets.

I am a queer trans brown youth, and although I am generally safe from encounters with the police, I am TERRIFIED of calling 311 especially when myself or someone I know is experiencing a mental health crisis. I am TERRIFIED for my Black and Indigenous siblings, knowing the fear they walk in every day and knowing some of their experiences with the police. Overall, I do not believe policing is safe for anyone.

Witnessing how the police has dealt with mental health calls in the past within my community has disturbed me. Little to no regard for the humanity of those suffering, making jokes about the person in crisis with other officers, being reactionary and handling someone's body without care or regard for their agency. Also, limited understanding of how to be sensitive to LGBTQ+ people by assuming people's gender and pronouns. This is all so harmful and leaves people scarred.

Also, the case of Abdirahman Abdi - a 37 year old Black Somali man who suffered from mental health issues killed at the hands of police in 2016, posing no threat to their safety. Either way, if police can arrest non-Black people with "de-escalation skills" and not kill someone no matter their behaviour, then that should have happened here and with the many other Black people murdered by police. We see excessive force used way too often and misuse of power so often with police, this needs to end. The OPS budget is way too high for crimes like this to be committed by police.

I also think about Special Constables through OC Transpo and the violence Black folks, Indigenous folks, folks with addictions and homeless folks face when trying to access transportation. Discrimination and refusal of service should never happen to someone, public transport should be free and special constables should not exist to harass people who cannot afford to access a necessary public service.

There is absolutely no reason the OPS needs $319 million dollars to function. This money should be invested in community led interventions when it comes to mental health supports, addiction supports, accessible (free) public transportation, safer housing for low-income and homeless folks, and groups of folks dedicated to de-escaltion within their own communities. Funding here will ultimately keep our communities safer. And within these supports, we have to priortize and consider the needs of Black, Indigenous, people of colour who are queer, trans, and/or disabled, especially trans women and youth,

I hope the stories shared here push this plan forward in true accountability and provide the funding our communities need.