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DC police holds meeting to discuss future of LGBT liaison unit by Scott Stiffler
EDGE ContributorMonday Nov 23, 2009 A meeting took place on Nov. 17 to discuss the future of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit or GLLU.
The meeting, which was attended by approximately 50 Washington-area activists and residents, provided much information and assurances. Some left, however, with the same concerns they had before they came.
Chris Farris, co-chair of Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence, gave the following assessment.
"If the point was to allow the community to express its concerns and frustrations, the meeting was a success," he said. "If the point was for the MPD to allay those concerns, then the meeting was a disaster."
At issue is whether or not a Nov. 30 LGBT sensitivity training session will end up diluting, dissolving or otherwise compromising the GLLU. Officers who receive that training will not become part of the unit, but will instead be an available resource within their own precincts.
Farris, who said he feels the idea of having satellite GLLU officers in various police districts is "a great idea," conceded concern about whether the addition of those trained officers will come "at the expense of a strong, centralized unit which has been operating with tremendous success."
Responding to those concerns, Assistant Chief Diane Groomes noted MPD Chief Cathy Lanier is "committed to maintaining a central GLLU, while expanding its reach with trained affiliate members throughout the city."
Groomes’ reassurances, which have been repeatedly expressed to local activists, provide little comfort to Farris. He asserts he feels the training, and a lack of fully staffed officers in the current GLLU unit means the department is "systematically dismantling the nationally recognized gay and lesbian liaison unit that has been serving the community with great success over the past several years."
Although Groomes pointed out the unit has no requirement for the number of officers on staff, Farris said he believes its current staff shortage-and the upcoming training of officers not assigned to GLLU-heralds the "systematic dismantling of the nationally recognized gay and liaison unit that has been serving the community with great success over the past several years."
Groomes further noted the department has assigned Sgt. Carlos Mejia to supervise the GLUU in addition to his duties as the head of the the department’s Latino Liaison Unit.
As for the fact officers who voluntarily receive the Nov. 30 training will remain at their current assignments as opposed to joining the GLLU, Groomes said the move will "provide increased service and more immediate response times by having trained officers for all of these communities in closer proximity to the residents who need them."
In addition to the direct supervision provided by Mejia, Lt. Allan Thomas and Capt. Edward Delgado will manage the unit.
"The Chief is taking important steps now to enhance the services that have been traditionally been offered by the GLLU and increase our ability to be responsive to the needs of all of the underserved communities we serve," Groomes said.
Delgado, who oversees all special liaison units, said while the Nov. 30 program is limited to those who volunteered for the training, making such instruction mandatory for current officers and new recruits is "most definitely something we will strive for."
"Right now, we’re looking at getting the initial training out to individuals who have volunteered to work with the LGBT, Latino, Asian, deaf and hard of hearing units," he added.
Delgado further noted the MPD "has a sensitivity block of instruction dealing with the LGBT community as well as other communities."
"It’s part of the yearly 40-hour training block that all officers have to go through," he said.
Farris expressed further concerns.
"Presently, we have an increase in anti-LGBT hate crimes in [the District of Columbia] that the MPD is unwilling to confirm," he said.
Farris further asserted he feels the standards for collecting and reporting statistics on hate crimes to the FBI "makes it very difficult to know what criteria they apply to determine if those hate crimes are ’supported’ or not."
"It’s only the supported numbers that are given to the [Federal Bureau of Investigation] FBI," he said.
Groomes pointed Lanier has publicly stated that while the number of bias-related crimes based on sexual orientation is higher than last year, hate crimes in general have not increased.
"The chief has worked to address this concern by developing a strategy to train and prepare additional officers who can better answer calls for service for these types of crimes," she said. "The Metropolitan Police Department reports data on supported hate crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) consistent with FBI reporting definitions and standards."
Scott Stiffler is a New York City based writer and comedian who has performed stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy. His show, "Sammy’s at The Palace. . .at Don’t Tell Mama"---a spoof of Liza Minnelli’s 2008 NYC performance at The Palace Theatre, recently had a NYC run. He must eat twice his weight in fish every day, or he becomes radioactive.
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