Kingston Police and Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC) are wrapping up stage two in surveying the community on best practices for police in areas including: handling mental health crises, diversity within the force and engaging with racialized populations.

"The survey asks people to share their thoughts and feelings on having interacted with Kingston Police...in order to help inform police on any change they may need to make in how they provide law enforcement services...It's really aimed at helping our residents feel safe and secure in our community, the reality is some people don't feel that way when it comes to interacting with police," says KHCC Director of Community Health Wendy Vuyk.

The Kingston Speaks Inclusion Project is open to Kingston residents 18+ until May 31, with the goal of receiving at least 500 responses. The Kingston Speaks Inclusion team will analyze the data in June, create a final report and present recommendations to Kingston Police.

"The police wanted this work to happen...they approached KCHC...We feel this is necessary and important work, and what we are hearing from people taking the survey is they're worried about the experiences some equity-deserving populations are having with the police. A key part of the messaging we're hearing is to not wait for a tragedy to happen in our community before this work is done," Vuyk adds.

The survey can be accessed here.

Listen to the CFRC interview with Wendy Vuyk below: