Building Trust and Relationships: Policing in LGBTQ2S+ and Indigenous Communities

Constable Dale Quiring

Establishing the first ever LGBTQ2S+ Liaison Officer position both within the Vancouver Police Department and the province of British Columbia, Constable Dale Quiring has been integral to the improvement of policies, procedures and most importantly relationship building with LGBTQ2S+ community. Over the course of his 19-year policing career thus far, he has spent time working in the Public Order Unit and the Source Handling Unit, while his time in patrol was primarily in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Most recently, as the Hate Crimes Detective in the Diversity & Indigenous Relations Section, Constable Quiring received the BC Community Safety and Crime Prevention Award in 2016, as well as a Chief’s Constable Commendation in 2017 for his work with the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Constable Quiring has been instrumental in implementing multiple LGBTQ2S+ initiatives, including the establishment of the 1^st Canadian Safe Place Program and the VPD/LGBTQ Advisory Committee. He created the transgender training video “Walk with Me” which has received international attention and recognition. Constable Quiring also created an LGBTQ2S+ sensitivity training program called Gay/Trans and Blue and is currently training various Municipal and RCMP detachments across the country regarding LGBTQ2S+ issues in policing. Given his expertise in the subject matter, Constable Quiring was further invited to present to Parliament in 2016 on Bill C-16 in order to generate discussion and provide a much-needed policing perspective. Through his dedication and commitment to improving policing practices, Constable Quiring was the recent recipient of the 2018 Blue Line Magazine’s Police Leadership Award.

Breaking the barriers of bias, prejudice and hate, Constable Quiring is working on new projects to change LGBTQ2S+ experiences, advocating for acceptance and inclusion in sports. Through innovation, focus on building relationships and creating cultural shifts within policing, Constable Quiring continues to set an example for policing agencies across the country as the VPD’s first LGBTQ2S+ Liaison Officer.

Constable Tyler Urqhart

Tyler Urquhart was born and raised in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. He had been a police officer with the VPD for 12 years, 6 of which were spent policing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Currently, Tyler is the Indigenous Community Policing Centre Liaison. He takes great pride in building relationships with Vancouver’s Urban Indigenous Community as the work toward reconciliation continues.