A Hamilton city councillor who was stopped for questioning by police while waiting for a bus earlier this year said he felt “targeted” because of his race, during a discreditable conduct hearing for the officer Thursday.
Coun. Matthew Green accused Const. Andrew Pfeiffer of harassing him and treating him “like a suspect in his own neighbourhood” while waiting for a bus at Stinson Street and Victoria Avenue in April.
Green said the situation quickly escalated and the officer asked him what he was doing and whether he was even from Hamilton.
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“I felt I was targeted and was arbitrarily stopped,” said Green outside the hearing room at Hamilton Police Headquarters.
“First there’s shock, then there’s confusion. You don’t know why you are being targeted in this way.”
Once the constable asked his name and realized he was talking to a city councillor that his tone changed, according to Green.
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In the notice of a discreditable conduct hearing for Pfeiffer, he was accused of engaging in an “arbitrary and unjustified street check.”
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His lawyer said the case was an important one to pursue because police need to be equitable.
“He was treated a certain way because of his race,” said Selwyn Pieters. “Because he was a black male he was treated as though he was an outsider in his own city.”
The city’s first black councillor hopes to establish an understanding that there can be “oversight” and “accountability” over policing in Hamilton.
Thursday’s hearing lasted only a few minutes but will continue on Jan. 31.
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The President of the Hamilton Police Association said Pfeiffer’s story is going to be completely different from what has been presented to this point.
Clint Twolan insists that the incident was “absolutely not” racially motivated and that the officer has done “absolutely nothing wrong.”
Twolan describes the street check as “a well-intentioned stop to check on Councillor Green’s well-being”. He also voiced disappointment with the councillor and accusing him of “using a venue like this to further his political agenda.”
Green said he is speaking for everyone who has been unjustly targeted.
“I believe this case will be just one small step in a province wise effort to bring back accountability to policing,” he said.
AM900’s Ken Mann contributed to this report
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