City councillors are rattled by an email distributed by Hamilton police Chief Glenn De Caire that seems to endorse the idea the black community needs to stop blaming police for its problems.

"I'm very concerned," said Coun. Matthew Green. "Does the Chief not understand how that … might create a culture of us-versus-them when it comes to community relationships?"

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De Caire sent the email to police members Aug. 13, the day after Shariek Douse, a black teenager, was gunned down in the parking lot of a MacNab Street North public housing complex.

It consists of a note from an unidentified resident thanking police for their work on the case and featuring the provocative sentence: "I also wanted to say that I believe it is time for these black kids to stop blaming the police for the problems and take responsibility for the actions of the youth."

In forwarding the message to police members De Caire appended his own signed note congratulating the officers who responded to the homicide and encouraging them to keep up the good work.

Green, Hamilton's first black council member, argues that by distributing the letter unedited or without cautionary comment, De Caire is giving his stamp of approval to the view that blacks need to stop blaming their problems on police.

Police spokesperson Catherine Martin, responding for De Caire via email, says it's the police chief's practice to communicate community feedback directly to police members but that doesn't mean he supports the opinions.

"Community members express their personal opinions about a wide variety of issues, however, the Chief's note was not, in any way, an endorsement of that citizen's opinion."

Green doesn't buy it. "When you print that off and sign it and send it to your police body, I can't see how it would be any other way — it's an endorsement of that statement."

Green argues De Caire's email essentially sanctions a culture of division between the officers he leads and a marginalized black community.

"If he doesn't understand the context of that email then that for me raises a whole new set of issues in terms of cultural competency of the chief of police related to diversity."

Coun. Terry Whitehead, a member of the police services board, shares Green's concerns.

"When you look at that line it looks like an endorsement that the black community is blaming the police for all their issues," he said.

"I think that's a dangerous ground to walk on."

Whitehead says he's heard the email is creating concerns both in the black community and the police service. He intends to raise the issue at the Sept. 24 police board meeting.

Green is seeking delegation status at the same meeting so he can address the seven-member board and police brass. He's also hosting a community meeting on police carding, which is widely seen as disproportionately targeting visible minorities, on Sept. 15 at city hall.

So what does it mean when the chief of police signs off on an email containing such problematic language?

True, the offending sentence was in the context of a specific killing and, apparently, community comments made to the media in the aftermath. But by posting it in its entirety, De Caire appears to be remarkably tone deaf to the sensitivities and nuances of a diverse community.

Green asks a very pertinent question: How does De Caire reconcile sending the email with the values of inclusivity and community collaboration recently extolled at the police business planning session?

"If he doesn't see the problem that presents to the culture of his police service, then that raises further questions about his ability to lead on diversity," said Green.

It's also bound to raise a pressing new talking point for the police board as it gears up to discuss whether to renew De Caire's appointment for another three years.

De Caire's contract doesn't expire until December, 2016. But under the terms of the agreement, the board has to give him a year's notice if it plans to seek a new chief. That means the board needs to come to decision no later than this December.

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Letter

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