Police chief vows to fix ‘fractured’ relationship with Somali community after Abdi inquest [Video]

Ottawa’s police chief says rebuilding the service’s “fractured” relationship with the city’s Somali community is a top priority following the conclusion of a coroner’s inquest into the death of Abdirahman Abdi.

Abdi, 38, died in hospital the day after his violent arrest by Ottawa police officers outside his Hintonburg apartment building in July 2016. He had been struggling with his mental health. 

Abdi’s death automatically triggered the inquest, and on Tuesday the jury declared it a homicide and issued several recommendations aimed at preventing similar fatalities.

Many of the recommendations address how officers should recognize and respond to mental health calls.

• ‘Too little, too late,’ Abdi family says of inquest jury’s calls for change at OPS
• The Abdirahman Abdi inquest: A day-by-day guide

In a news release issued Thursday, Chief Eric Stubbs said the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) continues to review the recommendations, but “it’s clear that they provide valuable insights to help us become a better, more accountable police service. We are committed to learning from this inquest, …