Nunavik’s new police chief faces scrutiny over past racist remarks
Jean-François Bernier vows to be accountable and lists building trust among top priorities
Jean-François (Jeff) Bernier, who has been serving as interim chief of Nunavik Police Service since last November, said he’s honoured to accept the position of permanent chief. (File photo by Dominique Gené)
With racist comments from his past resurfacing, Nunavik’s newly appointed police chief says he’s committed to proving himself as an accountable leader.
“I was a young constable and I made a mistake,” Jean-François Bernier said in an interview Friday. “I don’t shy away from it. I took full responsibility.”
In 2002, Bernier called a detained individual the N-word and imitated the man’s accent while working as a police officer in Quebec City. Only Bernier’s colleague Dominic Lambert was present when he made the comment.
The remarks were deemed unjustified, in a police ethics committee ruling from Feb. 3, 2006. The committee investigates complaints against officers. Its ruling said racist speech from police cannot be tolerated and that comments like the one Bernier made undermine public trust.
At the time, Bernier’s counsel argued the comments were not evidence of racism and compared them to casual swearing or blasphemy.
Bernier also explained to the committee that he spoke out of frustration and repeated provocation by the detainee, including threats and offensive comments. The committee found the explanations credible, but not enough to justify or excuse the comments themselves.
That same man was detained naked, which the committee also found unacceptable.
Bernier and his colleague each received a four-day suspension without pay for abusing their authority. Bernier also got a reprimand for the racist comments, as a result of the 2006 ruling.
His appointment last month to head the Nunavik Police Service came after weeks of interviews and discussions about his career and leadership, said Denis Abbott, spokesperson for Kativik Regional Government.
“Mr. Bernier presented as a knowledgeable and engaging leader with considerable depth of experience in community engagement and police reform,” Abbott said in an email.
He said the Quebec City Police Service provided a strong recommendation for Bernier and disclosed that the ethics committee cleared Bernier of all wrongdoings in 2011.
Bernier said the 2002 incident was his only disciplinary reprimand throughout his 27 years in police work.
“I think I can be a meaningful and quality police chief to the NPS and to the community,” he said.
Bernier’s appointment is temporary, for up to nine months, as part of an agreement with Quebec City police. Part of his mandate is to find a permanent chief of police for Nunavik Police Service.
Olivia Ikey Duncan, one of the organizers of a march last month against police brutality, said it’s important that Nunavimmiut know about Bernier’s past.
“It’s the people on the ground that are dealing with the police. It’s not the leaders. It’s not the regional councillors that are having to call the police for help,” she said.
Duncan said she hopes to meet with Bernier, who has promised to be accessible. She said systemic reform is necessary, and she is advocating for extensive cultural sensitivity training for police officers in Nunavik, including the chief.
“I don’t think changing the chief is going to change anything. It’s the system we have to look at,” Duncan said.
Bernier said building trust is his first priority as interim chief.
“Being here, it’s my 10th day, I see that trust is breaking and it’s lacking,” he said during Friday’s interview.
“When you’re able to see that kind of reality in 10 days being in office, that speaks volumes.”
One way to regain trust is by being open to recommendations from Kativik Regional Government’s audit of the Nunavik police, announced in July, Bernier said.
There have been three police-related civilian deaths in the region since November 2024.
Bernier said de-escalation is among his priorities in building the community trust and resolving crises.
He said it’s important to be strategic by not confronting a situation right away unless there is an imminent threat or a weapon is involved.
“Even when a weapon is involved, you always have to ask yourself as a police officer, ‘Am I doing the correct thing now?’” he said.
Bernier’s mandate also includes tackling the growing issue of drugs in Nunavik by strengthening the police service’s intelligence and investigation capacities. He also wants community members to join arms with police by sending tips.
“We have a huge advantage up North compared to the south. Everyone knows everyone, everyone knows what’s coming in and how it’s coming in,” Bernier said.
He said he plans to visit all 14 communities in Nunavik to hear from leaders and members alike to better serve them.
“I want to see with my own eyes the realities of each village,” he said.
Sure, sure…. you changed your mind. That’s it.
There’s enough racism with police everywhere and its systemic. And waking up one morning and saying to yourself “I’m not a racist” changes nothing. Has this cop submitted to behaviour modification? Years of therapy? An emotional purge of his past? Doubt it. But don’t worry, the other police will swear he’s a great guy!
Molson or Motson?
I want to see with my own eyes the realities of each village,” he said.
THE REALITIES OF EACH VILLAGE IS SIMPLE: STOP YOUR POLICE OFFICERS FROM RETALIATION, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR ABUSING THEIR AUTHORITY, PHYSICAL POLICE BRUTALITY, STOP HAVING YOUR OFFICERS (MALE/FEMALE) MAKING THE FEMALE FEEL LIKE DIRT WHEN THEY GO TO THE POLICE AND WANTING TO LAY CRIMINAL CHARGES OF MOLESTATION AND OR RAPES. STOP ACCUSING AND JUDGING THE VICTIMS. AND PROBABLY TELL THE POLICE TO STOP MINGLING WITH THE DYP AND S.S. WHERE THEY GANG UP ON THE INUIT AND MAKE THE INUIT LIVES MORE MISERABLE.
It is very important that this information came out.
The man is going to get the benefit of the doubt, because there is little choice at this point….but:
“In 2002, Bernier called a detained individual the N-word and imitated the man’s accent while working as a police officer in Quebec City….The remarks were deemed unjustified, in a police ethics committee ruling from Feb. 3, 2006. The committee investigates complaints against officers. Its ruling said racist speech from police cannot be tolerated and that comments like the one Bernier made undermine public trust.”
That’s because racist remarks DO undermine public trust. Calling a man the N-word can be done in anger….it doesn’t come from a place of anger….It comes from a place of bigotry and ignorance and involves a thought process.
Furthermore:
“At the time, Bernier’s counsel argued the comments were not evidence of racism and compared them to casual swearing or blasphemy.”
That lawyer’s argument, all on its own, is racist…and pretty disgusting, based on the history of the word.
Then this:
“Bernier also explained to the committee that he spoke out of frustration and repeated provocation by the detainee, including threats and offensive comments. The committee found the explanations credible, but not enough to justify or excuse the comments themselves.”
He wasn’t speaking unprofessionally.
He was being racist.
His justification, even now, comes up lame…..and if any officers (and there are a kot of them in Nunavik) as young as he was when this played out, makes a similar mistake in Nunavik with an Inuk or even a black man, I hope he won’t try to justify that as well.
To be honest, I don’t know what to heck to think about the man being thrown in jail overnight naked…..which seems beyond over the top….although that aspect of the story isnt explained well enough to know what went on.
To those saying “it was all a long time ago,” I honestly think it is fair to say that people CAN evolve away from ignorance -and I hope the new Interim Chief has…..for his sake and the sake of Nunavik.
He is an Interim Chief for a reason….so let’s see how the man does…..and the sooner he takes his “Nunavik all-viilage tour” the better, and I commend the man for putting it on public record that is his intention. A tour with town hall meetings and a Q and A period could go a long way to educate him on the north, and for Nunavimiut to get a feel for the man for themselves. …and for everyone to get the issues of the day out in the open and on the table.
He certainly should not be made permanent chief BEFORE that tour happens. As long as the Committee was fully aware of the past event, as an individual Id say lets see what Bernier does….but Nunavimiut deserved to know about his past as well.
He serves them….and hopefully that is the type of Chief he wants to be.
Boy you should hear the racist slurs i have heard from most krg councilors and mayors over the years. Even the anti white racist comments on the local radio station. Don’t see articles about that.
its only racist when white ppl says it
Feel free to call out racism when you hear it.
With an increasing number of black workers in the region it’s important to call out what’s clearly not right when we cross paths with it….no?
Yes.
If you have some specific names of someone in a position of societal authority throwing the N-word around in their workplace or on the radio, that person should get a chance to explain themselves publicly and face the music for what comes out of their mouth.
Wanna say the names of any of these mayors or councilors you seem to be suggesting have a habit of public racism, please do….along with a when and where you’ve heard it. Nothing is stopping you from doing it in the comment space below….rather than just throwing words around, without adding the foundation beneath them.
You seem to be suggesting we should downplay racism because you are stating it is widespread in Nunavik.
You don’t downplay important issues down, you confront them head on….
Bernier is a Chief of Police in an Inuit homeland where the vast, vast, vast majority of police are outsiders….while the local population has gone through and s going through a very difficult time in its recent traumatic history…. with (disgracefully for Quebec and Canada) the highest suicide rate in the world…. and a very high crime rate, that is falling as an overall trend, but still about 4 times higher than southern averages… and a police shooting rate that is about 40 times higher than the south over the last ten years.
Clearly Nunavik needs and deserves the best person available for the job tasked with improving the situation….and that takes due diligence and transparency to make happen.
Trust in policing matters…..and no one is arguing against that truth.
“Whataboutisms” ?
Not so much.
The ‘oppressed’ are a protected class, and besides it’s not racism if you direct it at disfavoured groups.
It is common knowledge that money and other benefits, in our case Indigenous benefits and rights, do not in themselves improve our lives in a high degree if not put to good use. The great leap forward is made when you take up responsibility and charge of your own affairs, when you do not rely on “outside help” for the day to day. As I hear of the Alaskan indigenous, the income they receive from the oil and gas companies has not worked out well in improving their lives and communities. We as any people do well in an active, engaged community. It is not an easy way out, at least not at first, but That’s the answer.
Yep, the deeply ingrained and casual racism of so many Inuit is a story unto itself.
That of course in no way takes away from the concern about this man.
What about staff at the Frob and taxi drivers?
Yes, it shameful the abuse that I have seen so many of them receive at the mouths of Inuit. I’ve spoken up about it, only to be told that I too can ‘go back where you came from’.
Which kind of highlighted the point really.
It’s right to know of the past. It is fine the chief speaks in his defense. Also to own a sidearm you must be a registered gun club member, Nunavik has none. A review of the carrying of those sidearms, and a referendum on the carrying of sidearms is not too much to ask. Do not be distracted.
For sure, the comment by “Reality” is bang-on in that there is a lot of racism towards white people in Nunavik, I see it and hear it everyday But given the treatment of the Inuit by white people that continues to this day, it is understandable.
Here’s a fun-fact: Statistically speaking, police in Quebec are the most racist police in North American, a result that has been proven time and again. They are worse than those in the States.
This comment about Quebec police being the most racist in North America is BS and unsubstantiated. Systemic racism is present in all of Canada but that doesn’t mean each police officer is a racist, a few are and must be denounced and fired. Systemic racism is caused by the way the system is built and imposed on Indigenous people by colonial governments. This is no fun fact and get your information from reliable sources not on internet echo chambers that aren’t exempt from racism, quite the contrary.