Bridging a gap: KDPS officer, OutFront director recognized for LGBTQ+ work

mLive | By Ryan Boldrey

Published June 8, 2024 at 11:30 AM EST

KALAMAZOO, MI — Usually when a member of the queer community walks into OutFront Kalamazoo’s LGBTQ+ resource center they are met with open arms.

That wasn’t necessarily the case the first few times Christina Ellis entered the office.

Ellis, a longtime officer with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, began making regular visits to the OutFront office about three years ago.

The visits, which were in an official capacity, came as a bit of a surprise to some of those working there.

“I was just checking in on them, making sure they were okay, seeing if they needed anything, much like I did with any organization or downtown business that was part of my beat,” Ellis said.

While the initial reception was one more of surprise than it was welcoming, the more she visited, the more comfortable those there became with her, she said. Ellis also began to understand why she wasn’t being met with open arms at first.

“Shame on me for not knowing more about my own queer history,” said Ellis, who spent the first 10 years of her 25-year history in law enforcement in the closet.

“There’s a lot of mistrust in the queer community when it comes to law enforcement,” she said.

After seeing some of that distrust aimed directly at her because of the badge she loved and proudly wore, she decided it was time to do something.

“It hurt my heart,” she said.

It was then, Ellis began to forge a partnership with Dell Darnell, OutFront Kalamazoo’s director of services, in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion.

As part of their efforts, the two co-created a gender identity equity training program (LGBTQIA+ Awareness for Law Enforcement) for the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Police Academy. The intent of the program is to instill cultural competency within police academies.

That work led to the two of them being nominated by the city of Kalamazoo and recently being selected to be awarded at this year’s upcoming National Diversity Council virtual LGBTQ+ Unity Summit on June 20.

The two are among five people being recognized with a LGBTQ+ leadership award at the summit and the only two from Michigan.

Dell, who also owns The Dapper Hammer — Michigan’s first trans-owned teaching woodshop — called their work deeply meaningful and personal.

“I grew up in the south in a very conservative area and I didn’t have any representation of what living as your authentic self could look like,” said Darnell, who identifies as a queer transgender. “Many of these identities are foreign to people. So, the reason I do these trainings is to try to break down some of that stigma and stereotype to help encourage people to turn any judgement they have into wonder. ... To realize that you don’t have to understand someone’s decisions to just show up and respect their humanity.”

In addition to the law enforcement training program, Darnell also works with other businesses and government organizations in the area to promote DEI.

Darnell said a lot of people place pressure on themselves to understand someone else’s journey before they can support it. By saying “It’s OK not to understand it, but we’re all just people,” goes a long way in validating and respecting that person’s humanity even if you don’t understand it or identify with it, they said.

Being recognized for the delivery of that message is a testament to the city that nominated them and Ellis, Darnell said.

“To have two of these awards (go to people) from Kalamazoo speaks loads about our city and its priorities and what we are already value and what we are aspiring to grow to become,” they said. “And to see that work being done at the city level, and within our law enforcement really makes me proud to call Kalamazoo home.”

For Ellis, her life went from being in the closet through her first decade as a public safety officer, to being in the closet about the fact she was a public safety officer when she first became more involved in the queer community about 15 years ago.

“By being out as a police officer, I hope I’m showing them that not all cops are bad, I’m just a human being trying to do the right thing and live a healthy and happy life,” she said. “I want to be able to help bridge that gap between the queer community and law enforcement. But on the flip side, I also want to create such a safe and inclusive environment (inside the department) that nobody needs to be in the closet.”

Ellis said she is one of at least a dozen officers out of approximately 250 at KDPS who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. While that many are out, she said, she’s statistically comfortable saying there are more who remain in the closet for a variety of reasons.

Despite keeping her own identity hidden at first, she said she’s always felt fully supported since being out.

“With each generation, it’s becoming less and less of an issue,” Ellis said. “A lot of officers I see coming in now are already out, so I let them know there’s a safe place for them to come to. I’ve been around long enough that I’m not afraid to fly my flag, so to speak.

“I’m super lucky to work for an organization like KDPS that is willing to to support me in taking on this task and encourage me to continue to learn.”

As far as the award is concerned, Ellis said she is humbled by the recognition and feels that the importance of her work is being seen and validated by those she works with and for.

Her chief, David Boysen, said that Ellis is truly deserving of the award and exemplifies not only the department’s commitment to the community, but its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“She has served with distinction at (Kalamazoo) Public Safety and illustrates our effort to ensure that all members of the community feel comfortable contacting us for assistance and have access to all the services we provide,” Boysen said.

Original link: https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2024/06/bridging-a-gap-kdps-officer-outfront-director-recognized-for-lgbtq-work.html