Classic Man
Chief Nishan Duraiappah; Investing in sound relationships
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
“Eating some samosas and jerk chicken is not enough,” Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said to me, and I chuckled at the thought. As I continued to listen to Chief Nishan, I couldn’t help but think about how far we have come, yet how far we need to be. As I sat there, and listened to this powerful soul, I thought to myself, “I think that this man is exactly what our community needs.” Now I know that actions speak a lot louder than words, and if his actions follow what I heard during my interview, we might just see a welcome change in Peel that could resonate to other regions across Ontario. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper would like to present to you, our new Peel Police Chief, Nishan Duraiappah.
Chief Nishan Duraiappah was born in Sri Lanka and immigrated to Canada. Growing up in Milton was not easy, and Chief Nishan recalled a painful story for me that just might have been the motivation for him to push past barriers, and do the impossible. “ When I first arrived in Canada, my family moved to Milton, and we were one of the only minority families living in the area at that time. As a kid, you don’t really think about racism; I only recognized it this one day when my dad and I were walking home. There was this truck that drove by us; the driver decided to turn around and when he drove by us again, he yelled out the window, ‘Go home Paki!’ I think that I was about six or seven years old, and I didn’t understand what this man meant by this. It was only after looking at my dad’s face did I know that this word he had called us was not a good one.”
I found it interesting that he shared this very intimate story with me. “I have to tell my story; if young people can see the opportunities they can see that anything is possible.” Chief Nishan explained that being a police officer was not his first thought when he was asked what he wanted to do with his life. “I was encouraged to get a job with a professional designation, such as an engineer. It was my high school teacher that encouraged me to consider policing, which manifested after I got involved in the Police Ethnic and Cultural Education Youth Program.” PEACE was created to promote understanding and cultural awareness, and has been doing so since 1988. Chief Nishan was one of the youths selected to participate in the program, which allowed him to work closely with the members of the Halton Regional Police Service.
After high school, Chief Nishan attended the University of Toronto, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Criminology from the University of Toronto. He also attended the University of Western Ontario where he received his diploma in Public Administration. He began his career with Halton Regional Police in 1995; he worked in the guns and gangs unit, as well as with the RCMP in a special enforcement unit. His relentless pursuit for justice moved him into commanding posts with the Halton Regional Police, and finally the coveted role of deputy chief.
“What were your thoughts when this position came up in Peel?” I asked curiously. “It seems like you had a great thing going in Halton?”
“To be honest, I was hesitant because I didn’t really like the idea of traveling, but after some thought, I said, hey! Why not? This position does not just fall into your lap, there is a lot that goes with being selected for this position. You have to be appointed by the Peel Police Service Board; there were multiple interviews, and all I could keep saying to myself was, just present who you are; it is good enough!”
Well, he must have done everything right, because on October 1st, 2019, Chief Nishan made history as the decision to make him chief marked the second time in Peel’s history in which the chief has been hired externally. He currently serves over 3,000 members of the Peel Regional Police Service, and took over from the interim Chief Chris McCord, who has been in the position since January 12th.
“So,” I began, “I have to speak for my community when I say that most of us have a distrust for members of the police force; what are your plans when it comes to serving the Afro-Caribbean community living in Peel?”
“I understand that some members of the community do not see this position as an honourable one, and I can’t blame them. In order for there to be mutual respect, we as officers of the law have to work on building relationships; it is the only way to build trust. In order to change the narrative, we have to change some of our behaviours. It seems like our current pattern is to just respond, but there is no true community engagement if we are just responding. This is where I come in; it is my duty to move it forward and assist in implementing change. I take the time to meet people, and truly connect with people. I will be assessing community based projects, and see what can be done to make some changes there. It is a top-down project, but I am committed to it.”
Another thing that I noticed was that unlike other Police Chiefs, Chief Nishan has taken to Instagram, and Twitter as a way to stay engaged with the public. “I have to get the public’s trust and confidence, and the best way to do it is by showing them that I am here, and that I am open.”
I must say, I was pretty happy when I left the station that day; it was truly a wonderful experience sitting down with Chief Nishan. His personality, authenticity, and beaming smile showed a side of policing that I had never seen before; I am excited to see what this young man brings to Peel, and what he can teach our youth about changing the narrative.