Tensions run high at town hall on policing Black communities in wake of 19-year-old's death

Winnipeg residents put the city's chief police officer in the hot seat during a discussion on policing Black communities that sometimes became heated, with the recent death of a young Nigerian student looming over the talks.

The town hall, called Policing Black Manitobans, was held in the wake of 19-year-old Afolabi Stephen Opaso's death. Opaso, a University of Manitoba student, was shot by police on Dec. 31 after officers responded to a well-being call at an apartment building.

About 70 people showed up Sunday afternoon and packed the African Communities of Manitoba's offices.

Jean-René Dominique Kwilu, who represents Opaso's family, moderated the town hall. He said he understands people's frustration.

"There's definitely a fracture within the community," Kwilu told CBC. "With the incident, other incidents in general that happen, there's a lot of frustration, anger and misunderstanding."

City police Chief Danny Smyth and former chief Devon Clunis answered questions on how the police system could be reformed to better serve residents in what was often a tense exchange of ideas.

People at the town hall pointed out Opaso wasn't the only person killed in a police-related incident recently. So far this year, Manitoba's Independent Investigations Unit has launched two other investigations into police-related deaths. Opaso's death is being investigated by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.

Chief Smyth said early on he couldn't address any specifics related to the case.

"It gets frustrating for someone like me because I don't actually know what happened," he said. "I'm not the one investigating and I don't get briefed on the investigation as it's ongoing."

Police said Opaso was armed with two knives when he was shot. People who knew him said he was dealing with mental health issues.

Smyth said he wants to expand a pilot pairing clinicians with plainclothes officers to respond to mental crisis, but with the shortages affecting the health-care systems, there aren't enough clinicians available.

"Regardless if someone has mental health or regardless if they're selling drugs, if we see on the news that one of us was killed, I'm going to assume that makes me special not to be killed," Dalili Lowka said during the town hall.

"You guys don't put us in a position where we stop assuming you're out to get us.... This city can do better."

Tunji Alao, who volunteers with the WPS as a neighbourhood watch captain, said he's often the first point of call whenever a friend has issues with police, and he said he hears cases of bias all the time.