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There are provincial guidelines to follow when it comes to missing persons, including a risk analysis, police said in a statement.

“Every complaint should be treated equally without discrimination related to gender, origins, culture, language or religion. Therefore, for this particular case, the chief of police has ordered an administrative investigation to determine if the provincial procedures for a missing person were respected.”

Both Moore and the teen’s mother say race was an issue. Moore said the girl’s mother was excluded from the conversation with the female officer, who refused to continue speaking with her and would speak only to Moore and only in French, even though she had shown she could speak English.

Moore said the first officer she spoke to was “dismissive and hostile” and said there was nothing he could do.

Shortly after, an officer left the desk and opened a door in the foyer to admit another woman. “I went to speak to the officer at the open door. At one point, I rested my hand on the door. The officer asked me to move my hand and I did immediately. After this, he grabbed my arm without provocation. Several people waiting in the hallway saw this and called out for the officer to take his hands off me. He did.”

Moore said she hopes police review and revise their policies and procedures, especially their interactions with Indigenous peoples.

Gatineau police said they have investigated this allegation of assault, but that so far, “There is no appearance of an assault. However, the investigation could bring new elements.”

Any member of the public who believes they have been treated unfairly by an officer has a number of options, including speaking with the Internal Affairs Division of the Gatineau police and making a complaint to the Police Ethics Commission or the Commission des droits de la personne in the case of an allegation of racism.

jlaucius@postmedia.com