DATE:

July 18, 2001

TO:

Executive Director,

Ottawa Police Services Board

FROM:

Chief of Police

Ottawa Police Service

SUBJECT:

 REPORT ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OTTAWA POLICE LIAISON COMMITTEE FOR THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information, and adopt an updated resolution reaffirming policing services to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities.

         

It should be noted that a complete presentation will be given in advance of the discussion of this report. 

 

BACKGROUND

 

In August 1989, a man named Alain Brosseau was thrown to his death over the Inter-Provincial Bridge.  During the trial of the perpetrators, it was revealed that the motivation for the murder was both a robbery and a hate crime.

 

In July 1991, a City of Ottawa Councillor brought together members of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) communities to address the concerns in the community about policing for the LGB communities.  Since that time, the Ottawa Police Liaison Committee for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities has met regularly to address incidents, policies, procedures and outreach initiatives.

 

In March 1992, the Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB) addressed the importance of ensuring that police services help communities define their needs by adopting the following statement:

 

 

Recognizing that gay men and lesbians are an integral part of the Ottawa community, the Ottawa Police Services Board affirms that this community should be served and protected in a manner that is sensitive to its needs.

 

Just as it deplores all forms of hate-motivated crime, the Board strongly condemns all forms of violence directed towards lesbians and gays, and fully endorses the statement issued by Chief Flanagan on October 22, 1991.

 

The Board strongly supports the need for continued consultation, cooperation and dialogue between the Police and the gay and lesbian community in the national capital region.

 

Since that time, the Board has been pro-active in addressing the needs of the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities, demonstrating its strong commitment to addressing police-community diversity issues.  The OPSB sponsored a joint community-police delegation to Boston in November 1992, to gather information about hate and bias crimes, which resulted in the establishment of the Ottawa Police Bias Crime Unit in January 1993. 

 

The Bias Crime Unit, a welcome development, fits in naturally with the movement toward community-based policing and increased emphasis on crime prevention.  An essential ingredient in the growth of the Bias Crime Unit is community input and shared decision making from all communities affected by hate crime, and in particular the Black, Jewish and GLBT communities.

 

In June 1993, the OPSB went a further step in affirming the needs of designated communities by funding the Ottawa Police Lesbian and Gay Liaison Committee Action Plan Project.  The presentation the Board will receive documents the results of ten years of work which was designed and produced with input from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Ottawa. 

 

DISCUSSION

 

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Liaison Committee.  In a presentation by the Director of Community Development, the Chair of the Liaison Committee and members of the Committee, the Police Services Board will receive a comprehensive overview of the tangible work accomplished during the past ten years. 

 

The work has demonstrated the value and the importance of pro-active partnership work enabling all participants to grow in their understanding of root causes of violence and harassment and effect a very solutions-based action-oriented approach to crime prevention and community development in Ottawa. 

 

Therefore, the new Ottawa Police Services Board is being requested to adopt an updated resolution that is part of the 10th Anniversary celebrations of the Ottawa Police Liaison Committee. 

 

The proposed resolution is as follows:

 

Be it resolved that the Ottawa Police Services Board:

 

Recognizes that gay men, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people are an integral part of the Ottawa community, the Ottawa Police Services Board re-affirms that this community should be served and protected in a manner that is sensitive and responsive to its unique needs.

 

Just as it deplores all forms of hate-motivated crime, violence and harassment, the Board strongly condemns all forms of violence directed towards the LGBT communities and fully endorses the significant results that have been accomplished since 1991.

 

Furthermore, the Board strongly supports the need for continued consultation, cooperation and dialogue between the police and the GLBT communities in the national capital region.

 

The Board also recognizes the need for community-based work as accomplished

through ten years of partnership work between the Police Service and the LGBT

communities and;

 

In recognition of a decade of progress, encourages all involved to continue to

work in partnership and to identify and respond to community identified needs. 

 

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

 

The approach taken by the Police Service has been to make the approach and process used to date as open as possible.  This includes conducting meetings with open membership, widely distributing materials via e-mail, and regularly reviewing the approach taken.  Members of the community interested in the process should contact the Service through email (info@ottawapolice.ca)m or by telephone (236-1222, ext. 5867).

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

 

Similar to a number of other community working groups, meetings are often conducted at the end of the day and through extensive volunteer time and commitment.  Working groups are provided with a range of support to encourage ongoing participation.  Individuals identifying the need for public transport, childcare or parking are also assisted.  This is a budgeted item under Public Consultation in the Community Development Section.

 

CONCLUSION

 

The unprecedented success of the Liaison Committee has been the subject of significant interest across Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia.  In recognition of the 10th Anniversary of the Liaison Committee, the Ottawa Police Services Board is being asked to reconfirm its longstanding support through the adoption of an updated resolution on policing services for these communities.

 

 

 

 

 

Vince Bevan

Chief of Police