Police in Oshawa, Pickering and Whitby discuss ‘serving with Pride’

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Published June 3, 2022 at 8:47 pm

Durham Regional Police officers are sharing their love of the badge and of themselves in recently released videos to celebrate Pride month.

While police and the LGBT community have long had a fraught relationship, DRPS has undertaken measures to improve their representation and this relationship.

Recently this divide led Pride Toronto to ban uniformed officers from march in their annual parade as the Black Live Matter movement ramped up in 2019.

Through initiatives like their Diversity and Inclusion Unit, which recently earned Serving with Pride awards, DRPS have endeavoured to better represent the the LGBT community. They have also hoisted the Pride flag above all their headquarters.

This year, on June 3, DRPS highlighted some of the officers who belong to the LGBT community and their work in “connecting families,” according to Cst. Carolyn Stone, “my police family and the community.”

“It is through these connections that it’s important we have candid conversations in order to promote understanding,” she continued. “In the end what matters most is love.”

“Policing with Pride holds a special place in my heart,” Cst Fiona Phillips said, “Policing allows me to serve the community that I love, something I’m very passionate about, and Pride gives me the courage to be my authentic self.”

“Everyday I put on this uniform I strive to break down barriers, promote positive change and reinforce that love is love,” she concludes.

Inspector Stefanie Finateri concurs saying, “Serving with Pride to me means acceptance from the community not only as a police officer, but a member who identifies as LGBTQ+.”

“It also means humanizing the person behind the badge and the uniform and continuing to build that trust with the LGBTQ+ community and police,” she concluded.

Finally Cst Jarrod Singh chimed in to discuss allyship between straight people and the LGBT community. “To me allyship starts with understanding,” he said, “and in order to become an inclusive community we must accept all members of our community.”

“I identify as a straight ally, and I support you,” he said, “Happy pride.”

 

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