Brent Bowden found himself in a state of disbelief when he discovered a banana peel on his pickup truck in June 2024. Being an African Nova Scotian constable with the Truro Police, Bowden was well aware of the historical use of banana peels as a racist gesture towards Black individuals, including athletes. This prompted him to investigate how the peel ended up on his vehicle.
Surveillance footage from the Truro Police Service, obtained by CBC News in August, revealed two officers leaving the detachment in the rain, with one of them carrying a banana. The officers then entered an unmarked police vehicle, and as they drove through the parking lot, the peel was tossed out of the passenger-side window, landing on Bowden’s truck.
Following the incident, Bowden has not returned to work, leading to complaints under the Police Act and a dispute with his union over representation. The Truro Police Service and Town of Truro acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, with Police Chief David MacNeil being informed the next day and internal meetings held in the subsequent weeks.
Despite the internal investigation concluding that there was no intentional wrongdoing, Bowden expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of disciplinary action against the involved officers. He felt that the investigation was merely a superficial attempt to quell the controversy.
Bowden proceeded to file a complaint with the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner against the officers, but the final report did not find any misconduct under the Police Act. While it was suggested that the peel incident may have been part of an office joke, the impact it had on Bowden was paramount, according to DeRico Symonds from the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute.
The report recommended additional training for the police service on cultural competency and unconscious bias, which the Town of Truro confirmed had been implemented. Despite the delays in the investigations, Bowden pursued a complaint with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission due to the lack of appeal mechanisms.
As Bowden awaits a return-to-work date, he emphasized the need for acknowledgment and support from the town, his family, and the Black community. The union’s refusal to represent him led to further legal proceedings, while a separate complaint filed against Bowden raised additional complications.
Despite the challenges he faced, Bowden remains committed to sharing his story and advocating for change within the police service.