Hamilton's Jaimi Bannon is the only female leader of a police association in Ontario

Jaimi Bannon, the new president of the Hamilton Police Association (HPA), says the union is ready for a fresh start. Bannon is the firstsworn woman officerto lead the union, and the only one currently leading a police association in Ontario.

"I am a big supporter of the members of the Hamilton police. They do a great job every day and I want to be their voice and their face, and I felt like I was a good person to take that leadership role and follow through," she said.

Though she didn't know it while she was running, Bannon said she feels great respect to be part of the milestoneand act as an advocate and mentor for other officers.

"It's kind of been an honour to step up and hopefully encourage other females and women to go into policing, and possibly challenge themselves for leadership roles," she said.

The HPAhaspreviously beenled by a woman Joanne Engelhart, who was a civilian but not a sworn female officer.

In November, Bannonbeat out the incumbent candidate, Clint Twolan, who was the association's president for the past six years. Bannon said he did a good job and there were no issues, but thought, "why not try a fresh face with new ideas?"

As a sworn affiliate, she's worked with officers on the road in all areas of policing, and felt she had a good feel for what members were looking for in leadership. She's spent the past 27 years with the Hamilton Police Service. Bannon said she ran a campaign based on change, communication, looking forward, and trying new solutions.

When asked about the rise in calls from the public to restructure policing,and whether change might include shifting responsibilities,Bannonreplied that it's knownpolice services have become the "dumping ground" for roles that other people have filled in the past.

She said people can be "quick to jump" on what the police skills sets are, but said officers are available 24/7 and will always answer the call to help.

Though she doesn't know where restructuring would fall in, Bannon said she agrees it's important to open minds up to different solutions, as long as safety isn't compromised.

3-year term

"I do think there's always ways to improve different areas or reallocate responsibilities," she said."I think there's definitely room for discussion and there's always room for a better way to deliver services. But it's important to make sure that's not at the cost of the safety of the community, or the safety of the officers responding, or any other professional that's brought in to help in these situations."

Her term officially began on Jan. 4 and runs for three years.

Hamilton's police chief Eric Girt is also retiring from the servicethis year, effective Feb. 7, 2021.

Management and the union haven't always agreed in past years on how to move forward with policing, Bannon said.

She wants to "break down those barriers" and meet with management to talk about making the workplace and delivery of service safer and better for officers and the community.

27 years with Hamilton Police Service

Bannonpreviously worked as a special constable with the University of Waterloo Police, and has been with the Hamilton Police Service since 1994, with the majority of time spent working in patrol across divisions in the city.

She's been in traffic for the past 10 years as animpaired driving specialistand drug recognition and evaluator.

Bannonhas also worked on the HPA's board of directors for the past four years, along with her latest role in collision reconstruction as a detective constable.

She's been a member of the International Association of Women Policesince she began her career, which gave support when there weren't many other women police. She also connects with Ontario Women in Law Enforcement, and noted officers in Hamilton were "instrumental" in forming the organization.

She says her priority is her family Bannon is a mother of four kids, who are now adults, and spent many years coaching and driving her children, in addition tobeing an officer. Her commitment, she said, also extends into passion and care for her "police family."

Pandemic challenges

With the workplace being so hands-on, Bannon said, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant police needing to take care to ensure safety for themselves, their families, and the members of the public from the virus.

She thinks police are adapting and meeting the challenges quite well, with some changes including taking reports by phone instead of at someone's home and needing to speak through masks to other officers.

Right now she's focused on getting up to speed with changes that have rolled in with the pandemic, she said, but also on the learning curve of her position and communicating with members.

Bannon says in the current media, officers can be portrayed as not being as connected to their community, but she says members are trying "to do the right things" and she's looking forward to representing them.

"Policing is a specific career for people who are interested in being connected with community, being connected with family, and wanting to help and protect," she said. "It's just a natural fit for me to find that passion to support members."