Jul. 15, 2004. 06:46 AM



Doreen Guy is the first black woman on the Toronto police to retire from the service.


Officer quit police over race
Speech at dinner criticized force
Claims colleague used racial slur


PHILIP MASCOLL
STAFF REPORTER

The first black female officer to retire from the Toronto police is standing by her assertions that rampant racism made her 21 years on Canada's largest municipal police force so painful that she retired early.

Doreen Guy has said that not only was she affected by racism, but senior officers and supervisors on the force knew about it and did nothing. Guy spoke about the racism before scores of officers at her farewell dinner in February, but it went unreported until this week when the CBC published a transcript of the speech on its Web site.

Contacted yesterday at her home in Grenada, where she now lives, Guy said: "I stand by everything I said then."

In her February speech, Guy referred to a written report she had given to the late deputy chief Dave Cowan, documenting the racism. Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash said he knew of Guy's allegations. But he said Guy did not speak about racism in the police force in her exit interview and she had filed no racial complaints "in her entire career."

He said the contents of Guy's speech would be examined.

In her speech, Guy said she wanted to share with the audience her experiences as a black female "serving her community within this organization."

She said her difficulties started in her first six months when she confronted a male officer who was using "racial slur against young black males.

"At that time I was naïve enough to think that once I let it be known that I did not appreciate those comments, then my wishes would be respected."

Instead Guy was ostracized, she said. "Over the period of six months I went from a confident person, eager to learn and looking forward to a brilliant career within the organization, to what you could describe as a nervous wreck, being afraid of my own shadow."

She packed her bags several times, but was persuaded to stay by several male black officers.

She went on to talk about being refused transfer and promotions despite top scores in the examinations and having received a Letter of Recognition from the chief of police.

Superintendent Keith Forde, the force's highest ranking black officer, said he had been at Guy's retirement dinner.

"Four black senior officers were there, plus lots of rank and file and many coppers from other police services. The majority of us (black officers), if not all of us, could empathize with what she said. And that is sad. None of us were shocked."

Asked whether he ever thought it would change, Forde, who is now in charge of training and recruitment, said: "I know it is not as bad as it was."

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