Professional Documents
Culture Documents
JUNE 2023
Thank-you to the Calgarians who Angela Storozuk, BCom, CAIP Shawn Cornett, PhD, ICD.D.
contributed their time and shared their Vice President Commission Chair
perspectives on communications and its
impact on trust in the Calgary Police
Service so that this report could be
prepared.
Your voices have been heard and will Illumina Research Partners Calgary Police Commission
make a difference. June 2023 June 2023
APPENDIX 42
INTRODUCTION
4
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Context
The Commission’s community The research was designed to 2022 Calgary Police Commission
perception research has evolved focus on two specific groups to Citizen Satisfaction Report
over the past five years from understand potential differences in
annual quantitative surveys to communication needs: In the 2022 quantitative research, trust
quantitative and qualitative in CPS significantly declined.
methods alternating annually. 1. Calgarians who trust CPS
CPS is a police service I trust
The research is customized and 2. Calgarians who do not trust CPS High + Moderate Agreement (%7-10)
Topic Rationale
Trust is critical to policing and is the foundation for police legitimacy.
The 2022 Citizen Satisfaction research found trust in CPS is declining and
Calgarians mentioned communications as a top area for improvement.
Sources:
• City of Calgary Newsroom: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/?h=1&t=Police
• Online google search including CalgaryHerald.com, Globalnews.ca, Calgarysun.com, Newsroom.calgary.ca, Cbc.ca, and CNN.com
I LLUMINA RESEARCH PARTNERS 8
CONTEXT: UNDERSTANDING TRUST
Trust has two components: capability and character.
It is impacted by citizen experiences, collaboration, and communications.
Source: 1 © ESOMAR CONGRESS 2022, Don’t Trust Your Brand Trust Score,
Lyndall Spooner CEO of Fifth Dimension Research and Consulting I LLUMINA RESEARCH PARTNERS 9
Photo by Lisa on Adobe
Photo by Kyler Nixon on Unsplash
10
Communication needs are similar.
Communication needs were similar across participants. What participants
want to know from CPS and advice on how to communicate to them is the
same and doesn’t change based on the participant’s level of trust in CPS.
The difference is that participants who distrust CPS had an interest in more
communication more frequently than participants who trust CPS.
Personal Perceptions of
Experiences Safety
Participants talked about the
Participants talked about
need for CPS to maintain and
how positive personal Witnessing Police
experiences build trust in CPS Community improve safety in Calgary. A
Interactions Communications visible presence is considered
when officers are
(In Person)
Collaboration important for preventing crime,
approachable, easy to work
particularly in high crime areas.
with, reassuring, a rapport is
built, and they are confident Participants shared that What is seen or heard Participants had low Five safety concerns were
CPS will be there to help them witnessing CPS effectively through various types of awareness of current CPS voiced:
when needed. deal with a situation communications (e.g., TV, initiatives to collaborate with 1. CPS is inadequately
strengthens their trust in CPS, radio, social media) influences the community. staffed for a city the size
Negative experiences make makes them feel safe, and trust in CPS. of Calgary.
participants feel unsafe and improves their perceptions They believed that 2. Calgary downtown and
do not instill trust and that CPS is doing a good job. For the most part, participants communications about CPS transit/c-train are unsafe
confidence in CPS. Some believe what they hear about efforts to collaborate with areas.
participants talked about Witnessing interactions where policing, crime, and safety on the community builds trust in
3. Drugs, gangs, violent
how their trust remains low, CPS is perceived to be the news via channels like TV, CPS because it shows they
crimes, youth crimes, and
even many years after a disrespectful, not listening, or radio or newspapers. are listening to the
crime at night are safety
negative experience. exhibiting poor treatment of community and trying to
concerns.
certain racial/cultural groups Social media sources of improve.
or marginalized individuals information are perceived to 4. Slow response times to
diminishes trust and be less trustworthy and more calls may mean not
confidence in CPS. likely to need verification getting help when
through other news sources. needed.
5. Racial misperceptions and
stereotypes by some
officers may result in a
poor experiences.
Participants shared the following advice for CPS when Participants suggested CPS build a human face Participants suggested that communication through a
communicating with Calgary’s diverse population. and personality for the Service to make it appear wider variety of channels is needed to reach the
more “human”, approachable, personable and diverse segments of Calgary’s population. News via TV,
1. Use plain language at no higher than a grade 8
genuine. radio, newspaper, and social media are the primary
readability level1 and avoid police jargon so that
channels currently used.
Calgarians can easily understand the message.
It was suggested CPS partner with a reputable
Suggestions to extend reach included:
2. Visualize content so that Calgarians can “see” third-party citizen in a long-term relationship (e.g.,
what you are saying. duo of a citizen and CPS officer) to be the bridge • Posters or infographics at public places (e.g., c-train
between the community and the Service so that stations, libraries, recreation centres, gyms)
3. Make it authentic and believable with pictures,
stories, and proof points. Calgarians know where to go to get trustworthy • Paper flyers
information on crime, safety and policing in
4. Boil content down to its essence and chunk it so Calgary. • Weekly or bi-weekly podcasts
that it is fast and easy to understand the message.
• Increased accessibility of community liaison officers
including through townhall meetings to reach older
Calgarians and/or those who don’t use social media
Balance
communications Collaborate
between reactive with the
policing and community to
crime prevention improve safety
and deliver
services
Communicate in
ways that will reach
the different Be “human”
segments of and relatable
Calgary’s diverse
population
16
PERCEPTIONS OF THE CALGARY POLICE Words or Phrases to Describe CPS
SERVICE
TRUST CPS DO NOT TRUST CPS
Descriptions of CPS are very different between ▪ Respectful ▪ Grateful for service provided
Positive
participants who trust the Service and those ▪ Thoughtful ▪ Visible in community
Negative
terribly wrong that they're far away, like sweating bullets. – Distrust CPS
and I think that makes me feel ▪ Expected to do too much ▪ Avoid police at all costs
safe. – Trust CPS I would question their schooling or ▪ Don’t get back to you ▪ Horrible
mentoring, or what they've been
For me, the Calgary police is taught to do in certain situations. ▪ Apprehensive around police ▪ Fear of police and for my safety
somewhat scary. They’re big, – Distrust CPS ▪ Scary ▪ Terrifying
usually tall guy. – Trust CPS
WITNESSING POLICE
INTERACTIONS
What Impacts
COMMUNICATIONS
Trust
COLLABORATION
PERCEPTIONS
OF SAFETY
“There was a couple of different meetings that I had to have with “I had an incident with two guys. I was by myself in the Kensington
police, but it was with the same officer. So, they kept that consistent area, and you know, some racial slurs and some derogatory, like sexual
which I thought was very kind and helpful for me in that regard, slurs were made, and there actually was a police car nearby. So, I
because it didn't feel like I was having to repeat the same information. approached the car, and just kind of like explained that I was feeling
It was the singular officer that I became familiar with so yeah, in that unsafe and what had happened. The cop was just like ‘what do you
regard, it definitely improved my perception about the Calgary Police expect me to do about this?’ The cop didn't even go respond and
Service. I almost felt like this officer kind of took me under her wing a check in on the complaints.” – Distrust CPS
little bit.” – Trust CPS
“In the evening, I was in McDonald's not that long ago, and there was “It was actually at the beginning of the pandemic, and I did see a lot
some stuff going on. A lot of homeless and people who would be of interactions with the police downtown. That was some of the times
around that train station were in there, and the police had to come in where I've seen the most dehumanizing acts from police.” – Distrust CPS
and take care of it. I felt very safe, you know, despite whatever was
going on - certain there was probably some drugs and other things
happening on that side of the restaurant, but I felt very safe.”
– Trust CPS
SAFETY CONCERNS
RACIAL
SLOW
INADEQUATELY UNSAFE ADDRESSING MISPERCEPTIONS
RESPONSE
STAFFED AREAS SOME CRIMES &
TIMES
STEREOTYPES
WHAT PARTICIPANTS
WANT TO KNOW
24
You want to be protected by the people
you trust, and we want to trust the Calgary
Police Service, and that if we're not getting
information that we need, if we're not
getting the information as a whole, I think
that definitely lowers the trust.
1 2 3 4 5
WHAT CPS IS CRIME PERSONALLY HOW CAN I HELP COMMUNITY
DOING TO PREVENTION RELEVANT Participants voiced that COLLABORATION
ADDRESS CRIME Crime prevention COMMUNITY-BASED they want to be part of CPS initiatives involving
Information about how information is perceived INFORMATION the solution and work community collaboration
CPS is addressing crime to be lacking. It builds together with CPS to keep (e.g., alternate call
Participants want to be
in Calgary to keep trust in CPS because it the community safe. response pilots) build trust
informed about what is
citizens safe builds helps Calgarians prevent happening that could in CPS and participants
transparency, crime and demonstrates affect them, their family, felt it should be widely
accountability, trust and CPS is being proactive. and their community. communicated.
confidence.
“I think that even if a whole lot of action hasn't been taken “I would like to hear more about general crime reports all
yet on a crime, it is important that the public are made aware over the city. I feel like District 5 or the Northeast tends to
of it by them. So maybe they don't have a lot to tell us yet be overrepresented in the media for anything rough
about it, and maybe they could never tell us a lot. But just happening, and I do think, just knowing the city pretty
acknowledging that it occurred, and that the police are well. I've lived here since I was born. I know that crime
taking some form of action.” – Trust CPS happens everywhere.” – Trust CPS
Some participants want CPS to communicate the arrest process and roles of
CPS vs. the justice system (e.g., the justice system sentences and determines “Even if it was a poster, like a simple graphic that was like
when you got arrested, you are here, and then you’ll be
when offenders are released) in a simple infographic format. Participants felt
there. You're at step one, you know, and there's step 2,
that increasing citizen knowledge about this process and the different roles step 3, and then you're out – like whatever that process is.
can help build trust and confidence in CPS. They also felt that greater If that kind of communication was broadly
understanding can help citizens take action to advocate for changes to the communicated, because if people were aware of how
justice system. our judicial system worked, it would be a lot easier to
enforce something, and there'll be a lot less argument
about what our rights are.” – Distrust CPS
“I think one thing that I'd like to hear from them is actually what “I went to the CPS Instagram to see “If they're actually addressing issues that I
are they doing? What are the steps that they are doing to make what kind of crime prevention tips thought are important, for example, like
Calgary transit safer? What are they doing to make parts of they've given out recently and since reaching out to troubled youth or different at-
downtown safer? What are they doing about gangs? What are October 2022 they've made 4 posts risk populations. That would be definitely
they doing about the drugs and things like that? Actually, what which I don't think is sufficient.” something that would change my perception
steps they are taking? How they're going to achieve it? What – Trust CPS of them.” – Distrust CPS
they're going to be doing?” – Distrust CPS
“So, if they are to put out some sort of flyers and show people: here are the top
10 most common crimes in your area and here's what you could be doing to
prevent it.” – Trust CPS
“So, if anything happened in my area, and let's say there was a robber on the
loose. They caught him. I would love to know that. Hey! The robber in your
community was caught. So, more things that directly affect me.”
– Distrust CPS
Participants want to be part of the solution to keep communities safe. They felt this
collaboration with CPS would build community relationships and trust.
Be Accessible in the Community Community as Part of the Solution How to Contact CPS
Many participants talked about how they Participants want to be part of the solution. Participants want to know how to contact
would like CPS to be more accessible in the They want a collaborative relationship with CPS for different crimes and crises so that it is
community. Engaging with citizens in person CPS. How can they help? addressed in the most effective and efficient
builds community relationships and trust. A manner.
• What can they do to help keep the
few participants suggested the community community safe? • Should they call, text, report it online, or
liaison officer was an opportunity to build report it in-person at a police station?
trust through in-person townhall meetings, • What practical crime prevention tips can
being easily accessible in the community, they do to prevent becoming a victim of • What are the numbers to call or text for
and providing crime and safety information crime? different types of crime or crises besides
relevant to the community. 911 (e.g., a mental health crisis, transit
crime, drugs, property crime)?
Participants feel trained mental health and addictions professionals I think it's a tough scenario again. I think that overall, I've seen improvement
are best suited for these calls to ensure these citizens get the help over the years, but they still need more training. Without disclosing too much
information, you know that I work in a school. Sometimes children have mental
they need. Many felt that this is best done through collaboration with
health issues also, and unfortunately, police are called because it gets to a
a community social agency. situation where physically it is not safe for the individual or people around
them. I've witnessed the police officers really taking a hands-off approach and
doing their best to kind of talk that person into a safe spot, but I think more
training is always better with that.” – Trust CPS
That being said, a few recognized that CPS has improved in its ability
to handle these calls over time. Participants perceive that some
officers have had some training to deal with mental health situations.
One participant spoke of witnessing CPS’ hands off approach to talk “I suffer from mental health issues. I was having a panic attack, and there's an
issue where I guess people were like in fear for my life, right? So, the police
the person in crisis down and get the person to a safe spot. Another
were called, and the guy that came in. It was only one guy, and it took
participant spoke positively about his personal experiences with CPS
forever. It was actually an ambulance that was supposed to come for me…the
when he has had mental health crises. way he dealt with me was awesome. He was amazing. He also brought me to
the hospital. He had to stay with me for probably about 3 hours… It was
amazing, you know.” – Distrust CPS
Among those who distrust CPS, the consensus was that CPS should widely “And that they're recognizing that it's important for them to
communicate these pilot programs to build public perceptions and trust in CPS. figure out how to deal with people with mental health more
effectively and efficiently than doing what they have done in
the past. So, I think for them saying that they're doing that [pilot
Participants felt it is important for Calgarians to understand where the police programs]. I think that that's a really, really great step forward.”
fit in on these calls (if at all) and what number to call in these situations. Many – Distrust CPS
hadn’t previously heard of 211 and wondered if this is the number they should
be calling.
I LLUMINA RESEARCH PARTNERS 34
Photo by andranik123 on Adobe
INDIGENOUS COLLABORATION
More collaboration is needed for Indigenous truth and reconciliation.
Perceptions of CPS Consistent with the findings “Even if I just have a Calgary police car behind me, I'm sweating bullets…I have this little card. It's like a
from the 2021 Citizen little business card-sized card, and it's folded over, and it's from the Native Counselling Association of
Consultations, we heard some Alberta. And it's kind of like a primer or a tip on how to deal with police, what you're supposed to say,
Indigenous participants fear and what they can or cannot do legally in theory, but I don't know. It's terrifying to me that I have to
carry this card with me to try to defend myself, or so that I won't become another statistic.” – Distrust CPS
CPS, don’t feel safe, avoid the
police, and that encounters “There's deep rooted racism towards minority groups. And that's just my experience. And I just believe
with CPS trigger physical and that is the case. There's a lot of slang on the street that the police have their own street justice as
mental responses associated well…I think that it's not safe, because we can't trust them to follow their own rules. And that needs to
with trauma. be addressed…And it links to not keeping Calgarians safe.” – Distrust CPS
Perceived Lack of Indigenous participants spoke “In terms of my experience, I’m Indigenous. And so, my community has a long and turbulent relationship
about their turbulent with systems of authority. When I look at it, I noticed that last year, they appointed one new job for a
Communication, lady that would be designated as an investigator for missing and murdered, indigenous woman. One
relationship with systems of
Transparency, and authority and steps CPS has person, and that's a great start. But I feel that in a sense, maybe not. There's not a lot of transparency in
Collaboration taken towards Indigenous communications on that. Been over a year, and what is she doing? What's happened? What are some
of the projects that she's given the control, the power to enact things that need to be enacted now
truth and reconciliation.
that she's had some time of observation in the role. Where's the collaboration?” – Distrust CPS
However, concerns were
voiced by participants about “We do have outreach groups that are prominent and have been prominent for decades, but they
a perceived lack of have never been approached in terms of collaboration.” – Distrust CPS
transparency, communication,
and collaboration.
Communication of police “Another person who had been a CPS member who
misconduct gets a failing grade was sending women inappropriate photographs on
from many participants. social media. He just got reassigned to Youth link, Communication of the
which is the CPS division for people under 18. So, I CPS budget and policing
think they like to hide those kind of blemishes.” priorities is less of a priority
– Trust CPS for participants.
Most participants feel CPS is
not transparent about police “I would just like to speak about misuse, because we Availability of information
misconduct and have the organization called ASIRT that investigates on budgets and police
accountability is lacking. police action and police shootings. But I watched a priorities demonstrates
program not too long ago where there might have accountability and
been 50 or 60 cases presented and that maybe only transparency by CPS.
3 officers got charged. So, it's kind of like the police
CPS is perceived to close ranks to
do something that they shouldn't have done and it's • Communicating these
protect the officer. When CPS like a cover-up.” – Distrust CPS
closes rank, participants feel it topics via media
alludes to that CPS is hiding sources like TV, radio
information - that there is more “There's big corruption in the justice system. They and social media 1-2X
have laws in place, or I guess, friends in high places a year would meet
going on they don’t want citizens
that protect them from these scandals because they participant needs.
to know about.
definitely want to protect their reputation. And I
would like more transparency, because I think if they • Participants felt this
To ramp up trust, citizens would like are letting these things go unnoticed, or if they're information should
more visibility into the process and letting corruption happen in the Calgary Police always be accessible
better communication of the Service, there's a lot more going on that we don't
online for citizens if they
know about and they’re just pushing it under the
outcomes including disciplinary want to look at it.
rug.” – Trust CPS
actions taken.
37
HOW TO COMMUNICATE
Participants mentioned repeatedly that CPS communications need to use citizen
friendly language and be quick and easy to understand.
“Maybe in a public library. When passing by, there could be “Put out more posters that are easy to “It's just a really good idea to make it feel a little more
infographics about what the police are doing. So, I guess, like, understand, because nobody really has the personal, because some people will respond to that
just how they convey the message would have a huge impact.” time to read that much.” – Distrust CPS better than a CTV news report.” – Trust CPS
– Distrust CPS
Participants talked about CPS building a human face and personality for
the Service. They believe this would improve perceptions of CPS
“There's this one police officer that I know that has a social
character and help make CPS appear more “human,” personable, media account. I think they're based out of the United States.
approachable, and genuine. But they do like quick little video-based content. And it makes
this particular police force seem a lot more personable
The “face” would need to be a reputable person(s). Partnering with a because you get the perspective of individual police officers.
third party (civilian who is not a CPS employee) was an idea to be the So, I feel like, I don't know. Maybe that is an option to kind of
bridge between the police and the community (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly just bring a face and a personality to the organization.”
podcasts or press conferences with the same two faces: CPS member – Trust CPS
and third-party civilian). This “duo” could become the source for
trustworthy information on crime, safety, and policing in Calgary. City “I think if they were to produce a podcast, it'd be nice to
Councillors were not perceived to be a good partner. have somebody that's unbiased doing the podcast. So, I
don't know how that would work, but maybe, like a third party
Participants also would like CPS to acknowledge when they make that could be the bridge between the police and the
mistakes. Admitting mistakes in a timely manner can improve perceptions community.” – Distrust CPS
of CPS and help show the human element.
usage
High
through which participants currently learn about crime and
safety in Calgary. Very few mentioned using CPS online sources. ▪ Social media news sites and ▪ Public places (e.g., libraries,
shared posts (Twitter, Facebook, recreation centres, gyms,
Instagram, Reddit) community centres)
For participants who use social media, it was felt that social
media sources of information are more likely to need verification
▪ Radio news (QR77, Country 105,
through other sources (e.g., google it, check other news ▪ Flyers (paper)
Moderate
CityNews 660, CBC Radio)
sources). Younger participants felt social media was the best
usage
method to reach them and that Facebook is felt to be more
▪ Regular community townhall
multi-generational than other social media sites. ▪ Newspapers (Herald, Calgary
meetings with the community
Sun, Toronto Star)
liaison officer
To maximize reach, participants suggested that some
information about crime and safety could be communicated ▪ CPS online sources (Twitter,
through posters or infographics at public places (e.g., c-train Instagram, Facebook and CPS ▪ Podcasts (weekly or bi-weekly)
stations, libraries, recreation centres). Posters and infographics website)
may be useful for information such as crime prevention tips and ▪ Community Facebook /
usage
Low
how to communicate different crimes to the police. Community Crimestoppers sites ▪ YouTube channel
/ Block watch
More traditional methods like paper flyers and in-person
townhall meetings with the community liaison officer were
▪ Community Liaison Officer
suggested as opportunities to reach older citizens and/or those
who don’t use social media.
APPENDIX
42
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Agency Research Method About Qualitative Research
Participants for the four online focus groups were Respondents had to meet the following criteria to qualify for the online community perceptions
recruited via an online screener survey (see next focus groups.
page) from a professional market research online
▪ Live within the City of Calgary
general population panel. Participants represented a
diverse group of Calgary citizens that included: ▪ Adult (18+, mix of ages)
▪ A mix of gender and ages ▪ Not work for the Calgary Police Service
▪ Visible minorities ▪ Not a member of the Calgary Police Commission, CPS Advisory Board, or CPS Anti-Racism
Action Committee
▪ LGBTQIA+ citizens
Irene Ng
ing@illuminaresearch.com ILLUMINA IS AN ACCREDITED RESEARCH AGENCY WITH THE RESPECTED
CANADIAN RESEARCH INSIGHTS COUNCIL (CRIC).
THE SEAL RECOGNIZES MEMBERS WHO HAVE MADE THE HIGHEST COMMITMENT
TO FOLLOW BEST PRACTICES AND ADHERE TO WORLD-LEADING STANDARDS
illuminaresearch.com AND ETHICS IN MARKET RESEARCH, ANALYTICS AND INSIGHTS.