Newspaper Page Text
DIVERSITY IN ACTION
APD officers act as liaisons to LGBT community
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
ATLANTA POLI
% rpARTMEN
Special
LGBT Liaison Officers Courtney Murphy, left,
and Eric King.
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
Coming Live to Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta
June 27, 2015
Doors open at 11:00 a.m.
7 saw first-hand the impact MS had on my father
and the effect on my family at a time when there
were no approved treatments available. That’s why I
look forward to connecting with the MS Community
to learn how people are taking action on MS today.”
TV & Film Actress Madeleine Stowe
Join TV & film actress Madeleine Stowe for an exclusive event for
people living with MS and their care partners. You’ll hear about
Madeleine’s experience helping care for her father, who had MS.
People living with MS, leading neurologists, and health and
lifestyle experts will provide attendees with education and
resources for taking action on MS.
To register or for more information, visit
TakeActionMS.com
Brought to you by
A SANOFI COMPANY
Copyright © 2014 Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi company. All
rights reserved. Genzyme Corporation, 500 Kendall St.,
Cambridge, MA 02142
GZUS.MS.14.10.0812(1)
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.” 03
PubHc SafetyJJriefs
PetArmor, a flea and tick brand of Perrigo
Animal Health, is helping to protect the
Atlanta Police Department’s K-9 unit by
donating five bullet- and stab-protective vests.
In most cases, law enforcement agencies do not
have the budget to purchase K-9 protective vests
because they cost $950 As a result, police dogs
are left unprotected while fighting crime. “Our
K-9 officers are as beloved and valued as our
human officers,” said Atlanta Police Department
Chief George Turner. “We are thrilled that
PetArmor is helping to protect five of our K-9 ‘s.
This donation will allow us to provide our K-9s
with a higher level of protection.”
Candace Walker has been named the new Officer Brittney Fisher with Ruckus
Atlanta Police Crime Lab Director. Walker, a
Loyola University graduate, previously worked as an investigator for the Army, including
training forensic experts in Afghanistan, and with the GBI.
The City of Atlanta Department of Corrections has named Officer LaShonda Jones
as the 2015 Correctional Officer of the Year. Jones, who joined the department in 2007,
was recognized for her commitment to assisting with the care of mentally and physically-
disabled elderly inmates at the Atlanta City Detention Center. She took on that responsibility
in addition to her normal workload of monitoring and safely securing the other disabled
inmates in the unit she patrols, relying on training she received through DOC as a Certified
Nursing Assistant.
Eight officers in the Decatur Police Department were recently recognized for their
promotions. Three officers were promoted from sergeant to lieutenant: Jennifer Ross, Eric
Jackson and Billy Woodruff. Five officers were promoted from police officer or police
investigator to Sergeant: Dan Beilis, John Bender, Amy Hall, Phillip Nembheard and Kim
Parks. [Ki
Special
Front Row, from left, Sgt. John Bender, Lt. Eric Jackson. Middle row, from left: Sgt. Phillip Nemb
heard, Lt. Billy Woodruff, Sgt. Dan Beilis. Back row, from left: Lt. Jennifer Ross, Sgt. Amy Hall,
Sgt. Kimberly Parks.
1 6 June 2015 | INtOWIl
AtlantalNtownPaper.com