Complaint against Hamilton police chief for LGBTQ comments dismissed by watchdog

A public complaint filed against Hamilton police Chief Eric Girtfor comments he made during a radio interviewhas been dismissed by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD).

Hamilton resident Michael Demonecomplained to the police watchdog about comments Chief Girt made during an interview last September with CHML host Bill Kelly, regarding ongoing tensions between the police and the LGBTQ community.

"The effects of the chief's comments on the community are recognized," OIPRD DirectorSylvana Capogrecowrote in her response to Demone. "However, it is unlikely, given the context in which they were made, that the comments would constitute misconduct."

In his complaint, Demoneaccused Girt of inciting discrimination by responding to Kelly's "clear and concisequestions" with statements that evoked "a negative portrayal and characterization of LGBT people."

Demone alleged that Girt failed to properly address questions posed to himregardingpolice efforts to mend theirrelationship with the city's LGBTQ community and instead offered"statements that in no conceivable way ... provided a logical, rational or coherent answer."

In responding to severalquestions, Girt spoke aboutdealing with complaints years ago fromfamiliesabout gay men having sex in the washrooms of the former Centre Mall, and he also mentioned "anal sex" recently being removed from the Criminal Code.

Capogreconoted in her response that an independent review is underwayinto Hamilton police's response to the Pride violence, and that review seeks to "promote healing and build trust between the service, the LGBTQ community and Hamilton residents at large."

In an interview with CBC News, Demone said the dismissal of his complaint is "disappointing," but "not surprising."

He said conflating his complaint with the independent review into the Pride incident is "a convenient way to bundle or conflate different issues, or symptoms of a larger issue into one event, when they really should be looked at as separate events."

Girtapologized after the interviewfor his comments and in a previous statement to CBC News, he acknowledged his remarks were"offensive to the2SLGBTQ+ community," and saidhe was attempting to "illustrate a point about legislative change.

Relationsbetween Hamilton'sLGBTQ communityand police and other civic leaders were tense following aviolent protestat the city's Pride celebration last June, as well as clashes between yellow vestersand anti-hate protestors outside city hall.