“Out on Patrol” drops by Vernon schools

bc.rcmp.ca/newsroom

2022-06-15 15:13 PDT

photo of students and police officersofficers

In support of Pride month, two police officers from Out on Patrol Society spent the day interacting and connecting with students at two Vernon high schools on Monday.  

Out on Patrol is a non-profit, peer support organization for 2SLGBTQ+ members of law enforcement that focuses on community engagement, charitable work, and education. Vancouver Police Department Constables Chris Birkett and Constable Bryan Watson, both members of Out on Patrol, visited social justice classes at Fulton and VSS to talk to the kids about Out on Patrol and other 2SLGBTQ+ topics.

In 2021, Out On Patrol received a generous grant from the Motorola Solutions Foundation to launch our youth scholarship fund and in-school presentation series, unfortunately due to Covid we weren’t able to get into schools until now, states Cst Chris Birkett. We couldn’t have asked for a better first day, and that was thanks to members of the Vernon RCMP, who coordinated three presentations at two different schools! It was great to connect with the kids, who were engaged and had thoughtful questions related to policing and our personal experiences as 2SLGBTQ+ members of law enforcement.

The presentations also touched on the relationship between the community and police as well as the history of 2SLGBTQ+ rights in Canada.

It’s so important to have these positive interactions and to create safe spaces where we can have good, honest conversations, and for Chris and Bryan to come into our schools and share their story, it really reinforces that, states Constable Neil Horne, School Resource Officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP. Acknowledging and recognizing the past is important, and while we’ve come a long way, there is still work to be done. We want the public to know that policing is inclusive and diverse and that we’re committed to strengthening the relationships we have with members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. That message is really important.

Addiitional information about Out On Patrol, their mission, members, and programs can be found on their website by clicking here

Released by

Cst. Chris Terleski

Media Relations Officer
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP
3402 30th St, Vernon, B.C. V1T 5E5
Office: 250-260-7161
Fax: 250-260-7191

Email: christopher.terleski@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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