Ontario's Police Chiefs Unveil Best Practices Guidelines for Police Serving LGBTQ Communities

Groundbreaking document aims to strengthen relationships between gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities and police

TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Ontario's police leaders have released a best practices document - the first of its kind in Canada - which will help police services address issues of importance to members of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities across the province.

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police's (OACP) 80-page Best Practices in Policing and LGBTQ Communities in Ontario is the result of an extensive research project led by Kyle Kirkup, a lawyer and criminal law scholar who examines LGBTQ issues.

Chief Paul Cook, the OACP's President, said the guidelines examine critical areas for improving how police interact with LGBTQ communities.

"Ontario's police leaders acknowledge that our relationships with our gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities have often been marked by discrimination, prejudice, and harassment," said Chief Cook (North Bay Police Service). "This document sends a strong signal to our LGBTQ communities and to everyone in our police organizations, that police are determined to proactively address issues that are of importance to our LGBTQ citizens, their families, and their friends."

As a living document, Best Practices in Policing and LGBTQ Communities in Ontario will assist police services to actively deal with issues related to police and members of LGBTQ communities. By having Ontario police services and community organizations share their knowledge and experiences, the OACP is seeking to equip police leaders and personnel to better serve all members of our communities.

Kyle Kirkup, a Trudeau Scholar at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, hopes the work will also lead to projects in other jurisdictions.

"Police Chiefs, officers, and community groups from across Ontario have been incredibly supportive in the development of this resource document," said Kirkup. "This is the first document of its kind ever published in Canada, and we hope that it will serve as a model for other police organizations in Canada and internationally."

Best Practices in Policing and LGBTQ Communities in Ontario was developed under the auspices of the OACP Diversity Committee. It received extensive input from police and community groups across Ontario. For a copy of the document, please visit www.oacp.ca.

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police's
Best Practices in Policing & LGBTQ Communities in Ontario Project

Under the leadership of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police's (OACP) Diversity Committee, Ontario's police leaders have developed Best Practices in Policing and LGBTQ Communities in Ontario as a resource for Ontario police services. The document is a continuing project and will be updated with new information over time. This is the first document of its kind ever published in Canada. Ontario's police leaders hope that it will serve as a model for other police organizations in Canada and internationally.

As a living document, Best Practices in Policing and LGBTQ Communities in Ontario will assist police services to proactively address issues related to policing members of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities. By having Ontario police services and community organizations share their knowledge and experiences, the OACP is seeking to equip Ontario's police leaders and their police officers to better serve all members of our communities.

Best Practices in Policing and LGBTQ Communities in Ontario was developed over a two-year period. The principal investigator, Kyle Kirkup, is a Trudeau Scholar and PhD law student at University of Toronto. As a gay man working in the legal profession and growing up with a father who continues to serve with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Kyle is familiar with both the policing and LGBTQ communities. His legal background and ability to provide a comprehensive approach to the project have made this project possible.

During the development of this resource document, the OACP reached out to all police services in Ontario, many open and closeted serving LGBTQ police personnel, and LGBTQ community organizations. It includes sections on:

i.		Checklist
ii.		Definitions
iii.		Training
iv.		Policy
v.		Liaison
vi.		Community Engagement
vii.		Recruitment/Retention
viii.		Know your community
ix.		Operational
		Hate Crime Partner/Spouse Assault Bullying Affinity Group/Employee Network
ix.		Resources/Networks

As this is a living document, it is anticipated that Best Practices in Policing and LGBTQ Communities in Ontario will be updated regularly and made available through the OACP. We welcome input and inquiries to:

Mr. Andre Goh
Chair, OACP Diversity Committee
The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police
40 College Street, Ste. 605
Toronto, ON M5G 2J3
[email protected]

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police is the voice of Ontario's Police Leaders Members of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police serve their communities as the senior police leaders in municipal, regional, provincial, national, & First Nations police services across Ontario.

SOURCE: Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police

Joe Couto
Director of Government Relations & Communications
T. [phone], ext. 22
C. [phone]
E. [email protected]
Web: www.oacp.ca
Twitter: @OACPOfficial
Facebook: www.faceboook.com/OACPOfficial

Kyle Kirkup
Principle Investigator Best Practices on Policing and LGBTQ Communities in Ontario
C. [phone]
E. [email protected]
Web: www.kylekirkup.ca
Twitter: @kylekirkup