Police carding a useful tool for Calgary police, says chief

Police carding, while controversial, is an important practice that helps the Calgary Police Servicedo its job, chiefRoger Chaffin told a crowd at a public talk on Monday night.

"It is never random. It is never arbitrary. There has to be a legitimate reason for that stop, that check."

Carding,referred to as "police check-up slips" by Calgary police, is when officers stop people in public places toask for identification and what they're doing.

The Rocky Mountain Civil Liberties Association says not only are these checks unconstitutional, they are also more likely to happen in Calgary neighbourhoods with greater racial diversity. They question the utility of the practice in Calgary.

While talking to the crowdChaffin concededthe system isn't perfect.

"There's just no way that you can have as large a city with as many people, as many diverse issues, that there wouldn't be a mistake."

Chaffin says he is looking at the policies, regulations, rules, and the province's laws to make sure the police service has the right model going forward for making checks.

He says he wants address any problems so they don't become a pattern in the service.

Abena Boadicame to hear Chaffin speak. Shegrew up in Calgary, and says she understands the rationale, but she will never fully support the practice.

"Either way, I'm not going to like it. I'm not going to be happy with it. I don't think it's something that anybody's ever going to be comfortable with. But I can see both sides."

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