Everybody 'mentions those comments:' LGBTQ liaison talks police chief, her role, more

In her first few weeks on the job as Hamilton police's LGBTQ+ community liaison officer, Det. Const. Rebecca Moran, community members have had a lot to say about comments made by her boss Chief Eric Girt.

Moran spoke with the CBC's Conrad Collaco about her role in building trust between the police and the community after disturbing events in 2019.

The relationship made headlines after violence broke out at the June 15 Pride festival in Gage Park. Protesters arrived bearing religious signs and used a loudspeaker to make homophobic statements. 

Moran, who is taking on this role on a volunteer basis — not paid by Hamilton police, spoke with the CBC's Conrad Collaco about what she'll be trying to do to build trust in policing inside the LGBTQ+ community. You can read an abridged and edited version of the interview or watch the full interview by hitting the play button above.

Det. Const. Rebecca Moran, Hamilton police LGBTQ+ community liaison

rmoran@hamiltonpolice.on.ca 

What made you want to take this challenge on?

First of all, thank you so much for having me on today and thank you to everybody who's been sending me emails and reaching out to me. I appreciate it. It's great to hear from the community this past year after Pride. I felt that there was a need for the liaison position. Hamilton police had never had one and it seemed like something that was a natural fit. I volunteered. This is in addition to my regular duties in the detective's office. So, I'm excited and I'm hopeful that we can start working to rebuild the relationship. 

This question comes in from Chad on Instagram, who runs the Bernie Custis Positive Space. He says "Rebecca is an amazing officer who I've met and chatted with many times and it's really cool because she actually reached out to us to chat and join us for some positive space meetings."

He asks "If the same thing happens at Pride 2020 that happened at Pride 2019, how will you guys handle it now?"

First of all let me just say that those kids at Bernie Custis are amazing and the facilitators of that group are awesome. I think for 2019 we've learned a lot. The appointment of this position in-and-of-itself speaks volumes. We are looking forward to working with Pride Hamilton and we really want to get safety planning in order so that doesn't even come to fruition — it's going to be a safe event and the safety planning is thorough enough that people can attend and have a safe and happy Pride. 

What did you think about the way police handled the Pride 2019 event?

I wasn't there and that's not to me to speak to. I'm hoping that the questions that the community has — the oversight review is going to answer some of those questions specifically about the operational response by police at Pride. My job is more to be a conduit between the community, be an outreach for people to get access to police services. A portion of the community said they're not comfortable coming to police. That's where my role will come in. I'm directly in the detective's office, a part of the community. I come from a lived experience and hopefully that will add some weight and value to the position.

What can you do to make sure people attending Pride are safe from any attacks that might come from protesters?

We'd like to meet with Pride Hamilton so that we can collaborate and get that going so that we have those systems in place and we have those plans set so that in the event that does happen we have a contingency plan and we have a plan that has been agreed upon by both sides. 

Why do you think that your voice is necessary when there are already members of the community, including the LGBTQ advisory committee, that have expressed concerns both to politicians and to police?

I think that my position will be to take back what the community is conveying to me and bring that back to the service so that they're more in touch. What are the concerns? What is being addressed? What needs to be addressed? Is there education that needs to happen? That's sort of a hands on approach. And I think that's why this role is so important. 

"Over many years, and through many processes, members of marginalized communities have shared their trauma, concerns, and priorities with the Hamilton Police Service. This is, unfortunately, another example of a top down approach to problem solving that doesn't acknowledge the feedback that communities have given to the Hamilton Police Service." - Cameron Kroetsch, comment sent in by email

What have you heard so far?

I've had lots of groups contact me. I think the number one concern that I'm hearing from the community is safety at Pride.  Of course, there's things about starting to rebuild trust and things like that. And I think that we have to start somewhere. Let's look at Pride and let's work on that because that's the number one thing right now that's coming up quickly. 

I've had nothing but support from my commanders and from the chief. He is in full support of this and has told me he fully supports me and he supports the work that I'm doing and will continue to do.

The chief made comments on CHML about sex in public washrooms when speaking about bridging the gaps between the police and the community. He's apologized for perpetuating those harmful stereotypes. How concerned are people about those comments?

Everybody that I speak with in the community mentions those comments. The chief has apologized and I think appointing me in this position is a step and I think that he's in full support of that. We can talk about it and we've talked about it and I think we need to begin to move forward. And I understand that there's healing that has to come from that. I think the appointment of this position is a signal from police that we want to move forward. We've heard the concerns of the community. We're addressing the concerns. And this is one single step to help start to rebuild the bridges. 

What would you say now to members of the LGBTQ+ community to convince them that you can help bring a positive change to the relationship between police and the community?

I hear their concerns and I am bringing those concerns to the commanders, to the chief, to the deputy chiefs and working in collaboration with Jas Dillon. She's our community relations coordinator and we've had many meetings with the community and we will continue to. I think my role is to start to try and rebuild that trust.

My approach is very hands on. If somebody in the community feels they need to report something to police... they can come meet me in a safe space or a space that I choose and that's significant because that's not usually the way things are done. Usually, you would call a general patrol car and they would come and take it and then it would go up to the detective's office. I think that I can offer you explanations about police process. It may not even be somebody reporting something. Maybe it's advice. Like 'can you tell me, is this a criminal offence?' 

You have a complaint and you're thinking 'I don't know if I want to call.' Hopefully, you will call me and I can get the ball rolling and I may say 'you know what, you're better served to go here' and I'll explain why.

How do people get in contact with you?

My email is rmoran@hamiltonpolice.on.ca. I work in the detective's office and I work shift work. I do have access to my email and I will be checking that. When I'm not there, my partner Alex Buck, he's on board.