Ottawa police introduce 'risk navigators' to combat intimate partner violence

Days after a mother of four was brutally stabbed to death in a local park, Ottawa's police chief said the force is dedicated to ending gender-based violence in the city.

On Monday, Chief Eric Stubbs told reporters why it was important to classify Brkti Berhe's death on Thursday as a femicide. It was only the second time Ottawa police have used the term, which describes the killing of women or girls because of their gender.

A 36-year-old Montreal man, Fsha Tekhle, has been charged with first-degree murder in Berhe's death. A close family friend told CBC that Berhe's aunt had recently ended a relationship with Tekhle.

"We have to eliminate femicides, and the only way to do it is to talk about it … and educate the public on this," he said.

Stubbs also said Monday the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has begun hiring social workers to serve as "risk navigators" to review cases of intimate partner violence that did not result in criminal charges.

"What can we do to assist that victim to navigate the risk that is probably present in that relationship, so we can help her get out of a difficult situation if there isn't a charge?" Stubbs asked.

In an email to CBC, Ottawa police said the risk navigators will reach out to the women to offer support, legal information and other resources. One risk navigator began work in January and a second was hired more recently, OPS said.

Ottawa police have not shared any information or evidence pointing to previous instances of intimate partner violence involving either Berhe or Tekhle.

Advisory body pushed for change

Police said the risk navigator initiative came after Hanadi Mohammed was killed by her husband in 2021. Mohammed had gone to police in 2013 but no charges were laid.

Later, the police service's violence against women advisory committee, which reviews relevant calls that don't end in charges, pushed for change.

"Police were not doing a satisfactory job of assessing risk in every case, so we could see [a] high level of risk in cases where no charges were laid and no apparent followup happened," said committee member Leighann Burns

Her 2021-22 case review report found risk assessments were done in only five per cent of reviewed files in 2021.

Burns said there has yet to be a formal evaluation of the initiative, but since April a number of survivors of intimate partner violence have come forward with additional information after being contacted by a risk navigator.

"It looks like the early indications are that the risk navigators are helping the survivors to feel some confidence in the police service," she said.