This task force appears to be a legitimate effort, with sterling national participants. However, closer scrutiny reveals that it is also another public relations effort *BY* our chief of police, *FOR* our chief of police.

Chief Lanier has defined the scope of the study to include comparisons with other metropolitan PDs, thus assuring that Lanier’s longstanding, questionable LGBT community policing policies, training and procedures will be shown in a favorable light by comparison.

Chief Lanier has also conveniently EXCLUDED three local LGBT premier civil rights and public safety organizations from decision-making/ voting participation on this task force. Those local DC organizations are the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA), Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV), and DC Trans Coalition (DCTC). These organization are among the most experienced local groups working with MPD to deter anti-LGBT hate crimes, and they enjoy the broad respect and support of DC’s LGBT residents and stakeholders.

Yet– in the past, as well– Chief Lanier has excluded each of these groups from input as to MPD’s LGBT community policing practices. This is likely due to their necessary criticisms of Lanier’s generally uncooperative treatment of LGBT public safety and community policing.

Without the decisional inclusion of DC’s GLAA, GLOV and DCTC in this ADL task force, this task force will lose a lot of credibility. Rightly so.