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More than seven months after the fatal encounter, Const. Daniel Montsion, 36, was charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.

The racism report summarized many recommendations based onthe experiences of the black community shared at a forum held one month after Abdi’s death.

The report said the police need to acknowledge “issues of systemic racism,” and to do that Bordeleau said the force has introduced a plan of action that includes: An equity and diversity inclusion office, which is currently being staffed; mandatory training for staff on bias-neutral policing; updated bias awareness training; a review this year of the anti-racial profiling policy; and the streamlining of the organization’s outreach recruitment strategy.

“We are launching a diversity audit this year to identify any barriers that exist for racialized members wanting to become police officers,” Bordeleau said.

Other panelists such as Donna Gray, general manager, service innovation and performance at the City of Ottawa, and Jennifer Adams, director of education at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, spoke about bias-free hiring practices and creating a working and teaching environment that reflects Ottawa’s diverse culture.

Farhia Ahmed, who was with the group Justice for Abdirahman Coalition, which was one of the co-sponsors of the event, was pleased to see the police act on the recommendations in the report.

She said one of the key calls to action was for the Ottawa police to admit that racism exists not only in society but also within the force.

Ahmed stressed the coalition does not believe that the police institution is holistically racist but that there are elements and systemic mechanisms within the system that are racist.

“We have the power to change those situations … and you can’t rectify things unless you recognize and acknowledge that there is a problem, and so I’m very pleased tonight to see that this recognition is finally there.”