OPP commissioner Chris Lewis says force doesn't condone racial profiling
By Richard J. BrennanStaff Reporter
Nicholas KeungImmigration Reporter
Thu., Dec. 12, 2013timer2 min. read
The head of the Ontario Provincial Police, responding to complaints by migrant farm workers asked to give DNA samples for a sexual assault investigation, says the force does not condone racial profiling.
The comment by OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis came Thursday after Justicia for Migrant Workers filed a formal complaint to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director.
Justicia alleges that up to 100 farm workers of various ages, heights and weights were asked to supply DNA samples, the only common factor being dark skin colour.
"It's hard for me to comment on an ongoing investigation, and I don't know the intimate details, but I will say that it's obvious that the victim and/or witnesses in this case have described the physical appearance of the suspect and that evidence has resulted in the approach," Lewis said.
"DNA testing of this type is voluntary. As an organization, we do not permit our employees to engage in racial profiling, and I'm confident in the OIPRD to properly investigate and report on this complaint."
According to Justicia, officers from the OPP Elgin County detachment went from farm to farm to collect DNA samples from migrant workers in the Tillsonburg area in late October, after a woman reported she had been sexually assaulted by an unknown person in her home.
Earlier in December, police arrested 35-year-old Henry Cooper, a migrant worker from Trinidad and Tobago, and charged him with sexual assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and uttering death threats.
Through its interviews at farms, Justicia estimated that as many as 100 men gave samples, 44 of whom the advocacy group was able to identify.
Lenard, 48, a migrant farm worker also from Trinidad and Tobago, said about 15 police cruisers arrived at his farm in Vienna, Ont., sometime after work in late October. They met with all 80 migrant workers individually and asked for their DNA samples.
"They were polite and professional, but it was very intimidating. They asked everyone to give their DNA instead of only those fitting the profile," said Lenard, who asked his last name be withheld for fear of repercussions.
"The officers said it's all voluntary, but we felt we had no choice. We had no idea what to do. We did nothing wrong. They did make an arrest after the (DNA) test, but you can't just pick up anybody who is dark and do the test. It is legally and morally wrong."
Justicia found that many of the men subjected to the DNA tests were nowhere close to the suspect's description and alleged they were targeted because of their skin colour: all were Indo-Caribbean.
Justicia is asking the police watchdog to review the case and make recommendations to the province and the Elgin Group Police Services Board.