Silent Partners

Its early 80’s. Women police were rare and the few in the force were just recently allowed to wear pant uniforms instead of skirts. 

Wendy joined the police force in 1976 and was in the special bureau for fatalities. In 1984 Wendy was driving to follow up on a forensic investigation when she saw a police officer out in the pouring rain, cloaked in a huge raincoat directing traffic without flares because the traffic lights were out. Thinking to herself that she didn’t want to have to be investigating something fatal involving this police officer later, she pulled over and set up flares for the soaked police officer. Thinking nothing of it, she continued on her way. 

Several months later, Wendy got a call for backup for a domestic offence. Wendy drove to the address and met Kim, who she didn’t know because she was a fairly new officer on the force. They met outside of the house and made a plan on how to safely deal with the situation. When they went inside, they saw a woman; her face was a mess. She was obviously badly beaten. Once assessing that she was stable, Kim called for an ambulance and Wendy arrested the abuser. 

When the situation was under control, the Kim and Wendy headed to the hospital to meet the ambulance and victim. Upon arriving the victim (covered in blood a vomit) ran up to Kim (‘Kimmie” as the victim called her), and gave her a big hug. Kim, now also covered in vomit made eye contact with Wendy, who clearly entertained by the now vomit and blood covered Kim. 

Back in those days, there were very few female officers. The limited women in uniform and special bureaus would meet with up when they could to support each other as women in a very male dominant profession and world. It was then that Wendy and Kim connected and began their relationship.

They kept their relationship quiet. Although there were a few men accepting of women on the police force, many weren’t let alone gay women on the police force. Kim and Wendy continued their relationship, showing up and just doing their job for the entirety of their careers on the force. 

“I can’t control what people to say to me in person, and if they don’t have the moxy or the balls to my face, I can only deal with how they present themselves to me, you learn. You move forward and do the job that we were hired for”. 

— Kim

Wendy and Kim got married the day after same sex marriage was legal in Ontario. Worried that the law was going to be appealed, and overcoming the hurdles of a new law with no one knowing how to marry 2 women, they were married within’ 48 hours on Friday the 13th, 2003.  They were the first same sex marriage in Peel region. 

After over a decade in the service, Wendy ender her career in 87’.  She was up for a promotion and on her way down the hall to her interview, a very high-ranking police officer said to Wendy, “you know you’ll never be promoted because of your relationship with Kim”.  Wendy walked into that boardroom and told them “I’m leaving the police force”, and walked. 

Wendy went on the teach at Seneca college for 31 years, teaching forensics, criminology and diversity. 

Kim worked in the court system and became an expert, supporting all of the various agencies involved (justice of the peace, victim services, lawyers, police etc.). 

Wendy got the Ontario medal for police bravery and Kim a medal for exemplary service. 

Kim and Wendy are now retired and live between Cobourg and New Brunswick enjoying each other’s company with their fur babies. They are active volunteers in the community and support literally anyone who needs help. They still keep their relationship quiet, partially because that’s who they are but also because the stigma associated with being gay is ingrained in them. 

“It doesn’t matter the gender of someone, or who they’re married to, people are nice or they’re not”. 

— Kim