Ep. 20 With the NYC Pride Parade’s ban of NYPD officers from working and participating in this year’s parade, I turned to retired Seattle PD Officer Jim Ritter for his reaction. Ritter, who had a 40-year career in law enforcement, was Seattle PD’s first full-time LGBTQ liaison, and he created Safe Place originally for the protection of the LGBTQ community. Shortly after this interview was recorded, groups in Seattle began making similar police-banning announcements for the Pride parade activities there. Jim’s reaction to NYC addresses the issues in both cities and any other that may follow. Equally important, we talk about Jim’s own journey as a gay man in law enforcement, his decades-long fear of coming out and the repercussions it could have had on him. It is a poignant reminder of how hard-fought the right to be safely out is – including for those in law enforcement. Jim remains committed to educating the LGBTQ community about police and police departments about the LGBTQ community. He has formed his own company and travels around the country to maintain a healthy, informed, positive dialogue. His work is a light that keeps the path forward illuminated in opposition to the hate and misinformation that drags us backward.

Jim’s company is J.S. Ritter & Associates, LLC https://www.jsritterassociatesllc.com/

I also discussed Safe Place in Ep. 19 with Detective Beth Wareing in relation to all hate crimes. For more info on SPD’s Safe Place Program, you can find it here: https://www.seattle.gov/spd-safe-place