Police act on inquiry's advice

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The newest members of the Winnipeg police force have been given a special assignment by Chief Dale Henry.

"We need, through improved co-operation, to span the gulf of distrust and cynicism that has risen in the community," Henry told the class of recruits, who graduated Jan. 15.

This class is especially equipped to restore some respect and integrity to a department mocked by scandals in recent years. Half of the 18 recruits are Native and nowhere in Winnipeg is the distrust Henry refers to more prevalent than in the Native community.

"This is one of those unique times when a single group of people has a rare opportunity to make a significant impact," Henry told the class. "You have a grave responsibility for the future of the force."

Henry is fairly new to the force himself, hired from outside the department last summer to replace retiring chief Herb Stephen.

The high percentage of Native recruits in the last class is a direct result of Manitoba's Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, which ended in the fall of 1991. That inquiry was held to examine how Manitoba's 100,000 Indians and Metis are treated by police and the courts. It concluded the justice system, had failed Natives "on a massive scale," and urged the police department to greatly increase the number of Natives on the force.

As the inquiry concluded, mutual distrust between police and Natives has been around for a long time in Winnipeg. But things really came to a head in the dark hours of a warm winter morning in March of 1988.

That was the morning Const. Robert Cross and his partner responded to a call of

a stolen car. Spotting it shortly after 2 a.m., they began pursuit.

Nineteen-year-old Melvin Pruden was driving the car and with the police in pursuit, he took a corner too fast and ditched the car in a snowbank. He got out and began running.

Cross and his partner called for back-up and Cross pursued the suspect on foot.

Three other cars responded and the officers spread out to search for the suspect. Pruden ran across a park and hid in a back yard. Shortly thereafter he was caught by Const. Bill Isaac.

Cross was still on foot on the other side of the park when he heard on his walkie-talkie the chase was over and the suspect apprehended.

At that time he spotted John Joseph Harper, a 36-year-old Native man, walking across the street from him in the direction of the stolen car.

Cross walked up to him and asked to see some identification. Harper, who knew Cross needed a reason, refused and started to walk away. Cross grabbed his arm, a scuffle ensued, and Cross's gun went off.

J.J. Harper died that morning.

The incident was the main impetus for the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.

Though Cross was cleared by a criminal investigation and a police department review, the inquiry faulted him for approach Harper in the first place, saying he did so only because Harper was Native.

Const. Tracy Krzuk, a Metis graduate, believes increasing the number of Natives on the force will help open the lines of communication and break down the distrust that has blossomed since the shooting death of J.J. Harper.

"I think it will help. I think it will be easier for us to relate. The same is true for any minority group dealing with their own people."

Manitoba Justice Minister Jim McRae emphasized the need for all officers to be aware of other cultures.

"We are encouraging cross-cultural training so that our officers are better equipped to use sensitivity and good judgment in the role of law enforcement."

The nine new Native officers bring the total on the police force to 47.