As the autumn chill settles over Ottawa, I’m sitting across from Inspector Kai Jackson at a small café not far from Parliament Hill. His uniform is absent today, replaced by a charcoal sweater that somehow makes his 25 years of police service seem both distant and ever-present. The steam from his untouched coffee rises between us as he recounts his journey.
“I joined the force in 1998 because I believed in something simple – that communities work better when they see themselves reflected in those who serve them,” Jackson tells me, his voice carrying the weight of someone who has witnessed the institution from within. “Being Black in Canadian policing means navigating two worlds that sometimes don’t understand each other.”
Jackson’s experience mirrors what researchers at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police documented last year – that officers from minority backgrounds often become unofficial bridges between their departments and their communities, carrying responsibilities their white colleagues rarely face.
Recent Statistics Canada data shows that visible minorities make up just 8.1% of police officers nationally, despite representing over 22.3% of the Canadian population. In major urban centers like Toronto and Vancouver, this disconnect grows even starker.
“The gap isn’t just about numbers,” explains Dr. Elena Mendez, a policing studies expert at Carleton University. “It’s about whose perspectives shape policy, whose voices are heard in briefing rooms, and ultimately, whose experiences inform how we protect our communities.”
For Jackson, that gap has manifested in countless small moments throughout his career – being mistaken for a suspect while in plainclothes, having his authority questioned during routine calls, or facing subtle skepticism from colleagues when discussing community concerns.
“There was this call early in my career,” Jackson recalls, pausing to finally sip his cooling coffee. “A domestic disturbance in a predominantly white neighborhood. When I arrived, the homeowner immediately asked for my badge number and requested ‘another officer’ before I’d said a single word.”
These experiences aren’t isolated incidents. A 2021 comprehensive survey by the Canadian Police Association found that 78% of officers from visible minority backgrounds reported experiencing some form of differential treatment, either from the public or colleagues, compared to 23% of white officers.
Jackson’s rise through the ranks hasn’t eliminated these challenges but has shifted their nature. “As a constable, it was about proving myself on every call. As an inspector, it’s about ensuring my voice carries the same weight in policy discussions without being pigeonholed as only relevant on diversity issues.”
Toronto Police Service recently launched an ambitious recruitment initiative targeting underrepresented communities. Staff Sergeant Melissa Chen, who leads the program, explains: “We’ve moved beyond simply saying ‘we want diverse candidates’ to addressing the structural barriers preventing those candidates from seeing policing as a viable career.”
Their efforts include community partnership programs in neighborhoods historically distrustful of police, mentorship initiatives for youth, and examining hiring practices for unintentional biases – steps Inspector Jackson wishes had existed when he joined.
“What many don’t understand is the emotional labor,” Jackson continues. “During major incidents involving race – like when videos of police misconduct surface from anywhere in North America – I become everyone’s resource person overnight. Colleagues want reassurance. Community members want explanations. Family members want to know if that could happen to me.”
This perspective echoes findings from the Public Safety Canada report on inclusive policing published earlier this year, which noted that officers from minority backgrounds often experience heightened stress during periods of public tension around policing issues.
Deputy Chief Aisha Williams of the Halifax Regional Police, one of the highest-ranking Black officers in Canada, spoke about this challenge at last month’s Canadian Association
