NRI police
officer filed a complaint of discrimination and racism
Waterloo, November 30, 2006
Raj Bhatti
NRI Rajiv Sharma's lawyer Peter Thorning
from Toronto told media that police superintendent Kevin Chalk
of the city of Waterloo, Ontario, had sent e-mails to police officers
in connection with the racial discrimination charges that his
client, constable Rajiv Sharma, had brought against the police
department. E-mails have undermined his client's ability to defend
himself.Thorning said that he was starting to interview Sharma's
fellow officers when the first of Chalk's two e-mails was sent.
On December 7, 2004, the hearing at police headquarters
ground to a halt before it even started when Sharma's lawyer,
Harry Black of Toronto, filed a motion asking that hearing officer
Supt. Anne McConnell be removed.
The motion said McConnell headed the force's policing standards
branch in 1997 when previous charges were laid against Sharma.
Same time, two of her officers investigated and charged Sharma
with discreditable conduct and insubordination in connection with
secondary activity. Sharma fears he wouldn't get a fair hearing
because of McConnell's involvement in the 1997 charges.
The lawyer for the police force,Gary Melanson, supported the
motion and McConnell removed herself as hearing officer. Sharma's
case was adjourned to Jan. 10, and an officer from outside the
force will be the next hearing officer, Melanson said.
- In November 2004 Rajiv Sharma had filed a complaint
with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)
- Alleging that he was a victim of persistent harassment
and discrimination since 1992
- Number of senior officers discouraging other officers
from working and socializing with him.
- He believe that not only are racial minority citizens
profiled, but racial minority police officers are also subjected
to this impermissible conduct
- In Feb. 2004, Mr. Sharma was charged
with:
- Working a second job
- Under the Police Services Act with neglect of duty, discreditable
conduct, insubordination, corrupt practices and secondary
activity.
- In 1997, Sharma was convicted of discreditable conduct-
when he was on duty, he had a verbal argument with
his former fiancee and then lost 20 hours pay
In July, 2004 hearing, More than 60 members of the NRI community
stood behind Const. Rajiv Sharma when he made a brief appearance
at a disciplinary hearing .
When Sharma last appeared for a hearing at police headquarters
on May 12, 2004 a large group of supporters also accompanied him.
Opal said Sharma has experienced systemic racism on the force
for years. Opal refused to identify the incidents. He also said
Sharma did not have a job on the side. "He was exploring
career options in private investigations," Opal said.
Another supporter, Sharma carried placards reading Stop Racism
and Stop Targeting. The supporters included family, friends, sikhs
from local Gurdwara, and black community.
Manju Vaishnav of Waterloo said that I have known this boy from
the day he was born. He is like my son and she stands 100 % behind
him.