Q-Patrol Takes To The Streets To Stem Gay Bashing

The Q-Patrol, a group dedicated to stopping gay bashing, made its official debut on Capitol Hill last night with the guarded support of the Seattle Police Department.

Under the tutelage of the Guardian Angels - a more established community-based patrol group - seven ``graduates'' dressed in blue T-shirts, gray jackets and black berets walked up and down Broadway.

Last night's initial three-hour patrol went uneventfully.

The ``Q'' in Q-Patrol stands for queer, according to David Chinello, one of the seven who went through the Guardian Angel training course in self-defense and teamwork aimed at defusing tense situations.

``We're not a loudmouth militant group of people marching up and down with our slogans,'' Chinello said.

The group's purpose, he said, is to promote safety and stop violence against gay men and women.

The group also pledges to actively interfere in the event of violent attacks, however.

Patti Crooks, one of the Guardian Angels who helped train the Q-Patrol, said, ``Ninety percent of the time, we defuse situations.''

Seattle police offered reserved support.

Noting police didn't screen, supervise or train Q-Patrol members, Seattle Police Sgt. Sim Tamayo said the department cannot endorse the group.

But as a concerned community group dedicated to stopping hate crimes, Q-Patrol has the department's support as ``another set of eyes and ears,'' Tamayo said.

Police concerns include the possibilities the patrols could become a magnet for those who hate gays and lesbians, and also that its members could misconstrue a situation and end up infringing on others' rights.

Police see benefits, however, in the patrol's potential in a witness role, and also as a means to encourage gays to report crimes against them.

The seven members who went on patrol last night were culled from an original class of 30, Chinello and Crooks said.

Six more would-be Q-Patrol members are in training. The leaders are careful to screen applicants.

``People with a chip on their shoulder need not apply,'' Chinello said.

Members frisk each other before patrols to make sure no one is carrying anything that could be perceived as a weapon.

If they encounter a crime in progress, the patrol's plan is to restrain the assailant and radio for police assistance.

Plans call for two or three patrols a week, including at least one weekend night, beginning about 10 or 11 p.m.