Moose Jaw police offer historic apology to LGBTQ2S community

They were words that many in the LGBTQ2S community in Moose Jaw had been waiting decades for: “I’m sorry.”

Chief Rick Bourassa and the Moose Jaw Police Service offered a formal apology during a media event Tuesday, acknowledging years of wrongdoing.

“We have not done what we should to eliminate divisions. Rather than being included and protected, many have been excluded and unsafe. This is a failure, a failure we and I own. For that I am truly sorry,” Bourassa said.

The process towards the apology began during Pride Week in 2019 when the chief began working with Moose Jaw Pride on ways they can work together. That led to a planning circle between the two organizations.

In his apology, Bourassa said policing is founded on the public’s trust. It’s everyone’s police and everyone is treated equally under the law.

During the planning circle, the police learned that was not the experience of people in the LGBTQ2S community and their families. Some went as far as saying they would not be willing to report a crime if they had to disclose their sexuality.

Bourassa acknowledged that historically there have been discriminatory laws toward LGBTQ2S people, but it was no excuse for not building bridges towards acceptance in today’s society.

Bourassa said police are going to take steps to work with Moose Jaw Pride, including listening and learning from LGBTQ2S people and their families, engage and support LGBTQ2S officers, work with Pride to come up with policies and practices, continue reaching out to Pride to train officers and to be open and accountable. The Pride flag will fly permanently at the police station.

Moose Jaw Pride vice-chair Cole Ramsey gave the response to the apology.

Ramsey said they can’t speak for the entire LGBTQ2S community in accepting the apology, but it was a good step in the healing process.

“There are many injustices to correct, many rifts to mend, many inequalities to bridge before we can say that we have truly done everything necessary, everything possible to keep our entire community safe,” Ramsey said.

“Today, Chief Bourassa and the Moose Jaw Police Service have acknowledged responsibility for their part in the harm that has been done to 2SLGBTQ people and families. It is a significant step in making change.”

Ramsey added that during the planning circles they heard of negative experiences with the police that took place anywhere from a week ago to decades ago and those people are still living with the trauma.

They did, however, feel the apology will be received positively by many. For those not ready to accept the apology, Ramsey said Pride will continue to support them and felt Bourassa and the police would do the same.

Following the apology, Bourassa and Kelly Carty, representing Moose Jaw Pride, signed a Letter of Commitment.

The letter was a public demonstration of the commitment between both organizations to work together and move forward from the apology.

Shawn Slaght, Discover Moose Jaw