By Clare S. Richie
These days, the news is full of police departments that lack diversity and clash with their communities. However, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) strives to have a force that reflects all members of the community, including openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members, in order to keep everyone safe.
Since 2002, two APD officers – Courtney Murphy and Eric King – have served in the LBGT Liaison Unit, which seeks to promote communication and cooperation between LGBT community and the police force. It’s a busy job. The liaisons provide information and follow-up on suspected LGBT hate crimes or bias incidents. For other situations that target the LGBT community, like cyber dating, they host public safety talks. They also conduct LGBT diversity training for all APD officers, local jurisdictions (e.g. East Point police department) and even international groups.
Equally important, the LGBT Unit is there to listen, including meetings with business owners, residents, community activists and officials from their neighborhood precinct. They also partner with local groups such as the Rush Center, Someone Cares, Lost-n-Found Youth, and more.
“We take time to listen to their concerns and reach outside the box for solutions,” said Officer Murphy. “Our successes include increased communication between the LGBT community and APD, events that benefit the LGBT community, and reaching LGBT youth in need of help.”
Earlier this year, the community voiced concerns about the difficulty some transgender individuals have finding a job. In March, the LGBT liaisons partnered with Someone Cares to host a LGBT friendly resume workshop and job fair.
Prior to the fair, prospective employers participated in a training session to learn about being transgender, what is ok and not ok to ask someone in transition and, most importantly, that “being transgender doesn’t mean you can’t perform job duties like everyone else.” Vendors at the job fair included AMC, Atlanta Hawks, Best Buy, Home Depot, Delia’s Chicken Sausage, Atlanta Fire, APD and others.
In response to the increasing number of Atlanta youth suicides, APD produced a video in 2012, “It Gets Better,” where openly gay officers, lieutenants, sergeants, detectives, majors and deputy chiefs shared their “coming out” stories and provided encouragement for youth facing the same.
Up next, the LGBT Liaisons will train Atlanta Public School district level then school level staff. “So kids have someone at each school to go to who knows how to advise them and their families so they feel safe and supported,” Murphy said. Plans also include starting a mentorship program with LGBT police and firefighters as mentors.
“We are trying to do a lot,” Murphy stated. “It takes time to make changes but we are on our way and ahead of a lot of places already.”
