Complaint against Hamilton police chief for LGBTQ comments dismissed by watchdog

A public complaint filed against Hamilton police Chief Eric Girt for comments he made during a radio interview has been dismissed by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD).

Hamilton resident Michael Demone complained to the police watchdog about comments Chief Girt made during an interview last September with CHML host Bill Kelly, regarding ongoing tensions between the police and the LGBTQ community. 

"The effects of the chief's comments on the community are recognized," OIPRD Director Sylvana Capogreco wrote in her response to Demone. "However, it is unlikely, given the context in which they were made, that the comments would constitute misconduct."

In his complaint, Demone accused Girt of inciting discrimination by responding to Kelly's "clear and concise questions" with statements that evoked "a negative portrayal and characterization of LGBT people."

Demone alleged that Girt failed to properly address questions posed to him regarding police efforts to mend their relationship with the city's LGBTQ community — and instead offered "statements that in no conceivable way ... provided a logical, rational or coherent answer." 

In responding to several questions, Girt spoke about dealing with complaints years ago from families about gay men having sex in the washrooms of the former Centre Mall, and he also mentioned "anal sex" recently being removed from the Criminal Code.

Capogreco noted in her response that an independent review is underway into Hamilton police's response to the Pride violence, and that review seeks to "promote healing and build trust between the service, the LGBTQ community and Hamilton residents at large."

In an interview with CBC News, Demone said the dismissal of his complaint is "disappointing," but "not surprising." 

He said conflating his complaint with the independent review into the Pride incident is "a convenient way to bundle or conflate different issues, or symptoms of a larger issue into one event, when they really should be looked at as separate events."

Girt apologized after the interview for his comments and in a previous statement to CBC News, he acknowledged his remarks were "offensive to the 2SLGBTQ+ community," and said he was attempting to "illustrate a point about legislative change. 

Relations between Hamilton's LGBTQ community and police and other civic leaders were tense following a violent protest at the city's Pride celebration last June, as well as clashes between yellow vesters and anti-hate protestors outside city hall.