And it should underscore for all public safety LGBT residents, community activists and stakeholders what an ongoing, REGULAR effort these interactions with MPD (and GLLU) should be. This is the essence of good community policing.

If GLLU’s core unit were brought to full strength and anti-TBGL crimes dwindles to nothing tomorrow, the critical mission for MPD and LGBT citizens alike, would still be that of maintaining public safety and retention of a high level of proactive crime prevention.

LGBT community policing, with a credible, trustworthy police/community partnership should be thought of as a never-ending civic responsibility– especially in urban America.

It is not the community meetings that matter. It is the prompt implementation of needed change at MPD, resulting from those meetings, that matters.

These are positive developments, to be sure. However, LGBT activists should remain constantly vigilant and reserve judgment until street-level community policing is also unmistakably re-established.

Only a restored, trusted and respected GLLU core unit will regain the confidence of the LGBT public, as well as that of MPD’s rank and file officers. The Mayor and Council should work diligently to provide MPD the funds to make that happen ASAP.

Meanwhile, welcome back to special liaison community policing, Captain Delgado! Many of us are delighted to see you back at the helm of MPD’s much-needed Special Liaison Division.