News release

Encouraging diversity in policing: Cst. Dwight Martin reflects on being Black in the RCMP

February 26, 2025 - Burnaby, British Columbia
From: Burnaby RCMP

Content

February is Black History Month, which celebrates and honours the legacy and contributions of Black people in Canada and their communities. The theme of Black History Month in 2025 is Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations. The Burnaby RCMP would like to thank Cst. Dwight Martin for sharing his personal experiences for this article.

Proudly standing in his uniform and speaking to a group of elementary school students at a Black Excellence Day event this January alongside several other Black RCMP officers was something of a full circle moment for Burnaby RCMP Cst. Dwight Martin.

"Just to have the kids see a Black person in a police uniform is important," Cst. Martin said. "I wanted the students to know that while they may not see a lot of people like us in these uniforms here, they can be the change. They can do this role too."

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Cst. Martin is the son of Jamaican parents. From a young age, he dreamed of a career in law, either as a lawyer or a police officer. While attending university, several of his peers, already working as police officers, encouraged him to consider law enforcement, saying his demeanor and character made him a strong fit for a career in policing.

Recognizing the risks of working in law enforcement, Cst. Martin initially pursued another career path. However, the idea always remained with him, and after years of contemplation, he finally decided to apply.

Overcoming various challenges along the way, he received a long-awaited call from the RCMP in April 2018. Despite already being well-established in his life, Cst. Martin packed his bags and traveled to the RCMP’s Depot Division in Regina, Saskatchewan, where he finally embarked on his training to become a Mountie.

Later that year, Cst. Martin was posted to the Burnaby RCMP Detachment. Moving from Ontario, where 2021 Census data indicates 5.5% of the population identifies as Black, to British Columbia where that number drops to just 1.3%, he experienced an unexpected culture shock, compounded by the demands of his new career.

"While Canada is described as a melting pot of diversity, there just aren’t a lot of Black people out here, especially compared to Toronto," he said.

Among Burnaby RCMP’s 301 officers, he is aware of only three others who identify as Black.

"Sometimes, when people see us working together in the community, they stare in disbelief because they’re not used to seeing Black police officers here. You can see the question on their faces, ‘How?’ And I find myself saying, ‘Yes, we can have this role in society too. We can do this job, even if you don’t see it every day around here.’"

While Cst. Martin occasionally receives unsolicited support from the public when in uniform, he has also faced racism and difficult interactions—solely because of his skin colour.

"Every day I put on this uniform, I’m reminded that I’m a Black police officer," he said. "Some people refuse to speak to me just because I’m Black. Others have talked down to me or used derogatory terms, even though I’m simply there to help."

He has also encountered people who make assumptions based on shared racial identity.

"Sometimes people may think I am ‘on their side’ just because we have a similar complexion. But I'm not there based on my skin colour. I'm there based on the word across my chest. I'm there based on a call. Often I say to people, ‘I'm not a Black officer. I'm an officer who is Black.’ I don't lead with my colour, I lead with my profession."

Encouraging diversity in policing

Cst. Martin, now serving with Burnaby RCMP’s Community Response Team, takes great pride in wearing his RCMP uniform. For him, it symbolizes both his personal commitment to achieving his dream of becoming a police officer and the broader representation of diversity in law enforcement.

In 2023, he participated in an RCMP recruitment event focused on the Black community.

"A lot of people assume they can’t do this job. There’s fear, or they worry about the challenges in the application process, so they don’t even try," said Cst. Martin. "Standing in front of these potential applicants, who were also Black, I could see they were bright-eyed, curious, eager, and even a bit in awe of seeing about nine Black officers together. I wanted them to know they can do it too.

As his career progresses, Cst. Martin hopes to see greater Black representation across the RCMP.

"People from all over the world are drawn to Canada. Every race, every culture, you’ll find them in the RCMP," he said. "I believe we can continue to strengthen that diversity within our police force. That’s why I attended that recruiting event, why I showed up for Black Excellence Day. It’s important for others to see what’s possible."

Contacts