Bermudian recently named to help run the force.

Mr. Arnold Minors, a graduate of Berkeley Institute, was appointed to the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board in June, after living in Canada for 29 years.

On Saturday, the Toronto Star quoted Metro Police Association head Mr. Art Lymer as calling for Mr. Minors' resignation.

"It seems to me he wants to destroy the morale of this force,'' Mr. Lymer said. "I think he should resign and take his opinions elsewhere.'' Mr. Lymer cited comments Mr. Minors made in an article in the Bermuda Times on July 16.

In the article, Mr. Minors said "black people have been shot and killed per capita disproportionately to any other community.'' He also said that white officers feared blacks, partly because they had little interaction with the black community.

"Often, they claim they were in fear of their lives and then kill people,'' he said.

Mr. Minors, the only black on the seven-member board that runs the Metro force, said more contact was needed between Police and visible minorities.

Hiring practices needed to change, and a black Police chief was needed.

The Star quoted Mr. Minors, 47, as suggesting he was misquoted by the Bermuda Times.

"It's my impression that there were some things in it (the report) I said, and others that didn't come out right ... for whatever reasons,'' he said.

People tended to spend time with others like themselves, and "when people do not spend time or know much about other people, the reaction is sometimes fear.

"As for the shootings, it would appear that black people have been shot ...

and it's disproportionate to other communities. We need to understand how that happens and why.'' Mr. Minors is touted to succeed Ms Susan Eng as chairman of the board.

It oversees a force with more than 5,000 officers.

Board vice-chairman Mr. Dennis Flynn criticised Mr. Minors' remarks as "lacking substance.'' But board member Ms Laura Rowe said she welcomed his views.

Toronto Police Chief Mr. William McCormack, who began his career in Bermuda, could not be reached for comment, The Star said.

Mr. Minors, an anti-racism consultant, is the son of Mrs. Gertie Minors of North Shore, Devonshire.