At a time when anti-LGBT hate crimes are on the rise in DC, Chief Lanier, through command actions that belie her public relations platitudes, continues to show her barely disguised contempt for DC’s LGBT communities. Items from an ongoing, sorry record…

– In Lanier’s recent interview, she sent up another anti-GLLU trial-balloon, asserting her continued desire to “put the GLLU unit out of business.” Apparently, citing an inexplicable “people are people” homily, DC’s Chief does not really believe that DC’s LGBT population is worthy of special liaison community policing.
– Accordingly, we learn now that Sgt. Mahl’s assignment to GLLU will only be temporary. GLLU’s core unit continues its downgraded and confusing status by MPD’s chiefs. It’s more death by a thousand cuts.
– Lanier’s sterling, but cherry-picked task force study of MPD’s handling of hate crimes and LGBT community policing has EXCLUDED our premier local civil right advocacy groups from decisional participation in that task force (GLAA, GLOV and DCTC). These organizations enjoy the broad support of, and credibility within DC’s LGBT populations, as they are the activists most experienced and familiar with MPD’s LGBT community policing practices.
– Through the June 29 hate crimes hearings at Council, we’ve learned that MPD’s LGBT Critical Incident Team has been more of a PR exercise than anything in which MPD seriously participates/ communicates with the LGBT community.
– Under pressure by LGBT activists to do so, Chief Lanier has resurrected former Chief Ramsey’s *Biased Policing Task Force* (while renaming it as if to deny that any biased policing takes place at MPD). But at the same Council hearing last week, we learned that MPD’s leadership continues its own institutional bias against DC transgender residents and stakeholders by again EXCLUDING DCTC from participation in THAT MPD task force.

When DC’s LGBT residents and visitors witness this kind of record– even institutional bias and discrimination from the highest levels of the Metropolitan Police Department, is it any wonder that so many do not trust DC’s police department under Chief Cathy Lanier?

Let’s hope Sgt. Mahl is permitted to stay at GLLU and assist in serious policing to deter hate crimes against DC’s LGBT residents and visitors.

We appreciate your service, Sgt. Mahl.