(Edmonton) Murray Billett, a long-time queer activist in Edmonton, says the police in that community are ahead of Toronto when it comes to recruiting officers from the gay community. Billett is the Vice-Chair of the Edmonton Board of Police Commissioners and says police in his city have been working for fifteen years on building relationships with the queer community.
Billett's comments came at a reception hosted by Police Chief Mike Boyd and openly gay Councillor Michael Phair that recognized the International Association of Chiefs of Police Civil Rights Award that was granted to Edmonton's Police Service for their Community Liaison Officer Partnership Model.
The Community Liaison Officer Partnership Model is an excellent example of community-based policing, which is a philosophy that is essential for the protection of the community, preventing crime, and building partnerships. Through this model, the Edmonton Police Service has created solid partnerships with the Aboriginal, Black, IndoCanadian, Muslim, Jewish, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, TwoSpirited and Queer communities.
Sgt. Tony Simioni, who heads recruitment for the Edmonton police, says the department regularly advertises in magazines and circulars that are read by members of the queer community. The police also make appearances at Pride parades to help recruit new officers, Simioni added.
Edmonton police also use some unique means to train recruits on the realities of living as queers in Edmonton. As part of their training, male recruits are asked to walk down Whyte Avenue holding hands to experience the real stigma that queers face in Edmonton.
Simioni says he doesn't know how many Edmonton officers are gay, because they don't ask that question of their officers. But he added that the police department wants to reflect society as a whole and that includes having members from all lifestyles and walks of life.
*Perceptions Magazine
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