Local
Retired U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Tomi Finkle dies at 64
Volunteered with D.C. Police Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit
Sgt. Tomi Finkle, who transitioned as a transgender woman after a 25-year career as a U.S. Capitol Police officer and in retirement served as a volunteer member of the D.C. Police Department’s then Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, died Sept. 4 from complications associated with cancer. She was 64.
Lt. Brett Parson, who oversees what is now the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s LGBT Liaison Unit, said Finkle joined the MPD’s Civilian Auxiliary as a volunteer with the then Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit in the early 2000s.
“She was the first member of the transgender community to serve the GLLU and assisted with outreach, training and education, and provided consultation on investigations and response to crime and incidents involving the transgender community,” Parson said.
“Her selfless dedication and commitment to policing and the community assisted MPD with building and strengthening relationships with some of the most underserved in our city,” he said. “She was a valued friend, colleague, and mentor, as well as a trusted adviser and confidante. Her expertise and experience helped many members of law enforcement grow and develop personally and as professionals,” he said.
Added Parson: “By living as her authentic self, she served as a role model for more people than she will ever know.”
In addition to her career as a U.S. Capitol Police officer and her years as a volunteer with the D.C. Police Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, Finkle served as a member of a private, all-volunteer horseback riding organization that provides search and rescue missions and emergency first aide for people lost or injured in remote wooded areas inaccessible to motor vehicles, according to her daughter, Tara Finkle, who is an officer with the Alexandria, Va., Police Department.
Tara Finkle said Tomi Finkle began her association with the organization, known as TROT SAR or TROT Search and Rescue, toward the end of her career as a Capitol Police officer. She said Tomi Finkle became a skilled horseback rider some years before joining TROT SAR.
“She was a founding member of the organization and served as its commander until the time of her passing,” Tara Finkle said. “She coordinated searches.”
Tomi Finkle is survived by her daughter, Tara Finkle, and grandchildren, Chloe and David, and a son.
A Celebration of Life was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and a memorial service was scheduled to begin at noon on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Williams Funeral Home at 4270 Hawthorne Road, Indian Head, Md.
A burial service with U.S. Capitol Police and TROT SAR memorial ceremonies was scheduled to follow the memorial service at 2 p.m. that same day at Epiphany Episcopal Church of Forestville at 3111 Ritchie Road, District Heights, Md.
Tomi Finkle will be honored by TROT SAR members at the ceremony by the presence of a riderless horse, Tara Finkle said. Tara Finkle said that during the memorial service Capitol Police will present the family with an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in Tomi Finkle’s honor shortly after her death.
District of Columbia
Gay D.C. police lieutenant arrested on child porn charges
Matthew Mahl once served as head of LGBT Liaison Unit
D.C. police announced on April 14 that they have placed one of their lieutenants, Matthew Mahl, on administrative leave and revoked his police powers after receiving information that he was arrested in Maryland one day earlier.
Although the initial D.C. police announcement doesn’t disclose the reason for the arrest it refers to a statement by the Harford County, Md. Sheriff’s Office that discloses Mahl has been charged with sexual solicitation of a minor and child porn solicitation.
“On Tuesday, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office contacted MPD’s Internal Affairs Division shortly after arresting Lieutenant Matthew Mahl,” the D.C. police statement says.
“The allegations in this case are extremely disturbing, and in direct contrast to the values of the Metropolitan Police Department,” the statement continues. “MPD’s Internal Affairs Division will investigate violations of MPD policy once the criminal investigation concludes,” it says.
“MPD is not involved in the criminal investigation and was not aware of the investigation until yesterday,” the statement adds.
Mahl served as acting supervisor of the MPD’s then Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit in 2013 when he held the rank of sergeant. D.C. police officials placed him on administrative leave and suspended his police powers that same year while investigating an undisclosed allegation.
A source familiar with the investigation said Mahl was cleared of any wrongdoing a short time later and resumed his police duties. Around the time he was promoted to lieutenant several years later Mahl took on the role as chairman of the D.C. Police Union, becoming the first known openly gay officer to hold that position.
NBC 4 reports that Mahl, 47, has served on the police force for 23 years and most recently was assigned to the department’s Special Operations Division.
Records related to Mahl’s arrest filed in Harford County District Court, show Sheriff’s Department investigators state in charging documents that he allegedly committed the offenses of Sexual Solicitation of a Minor and Child Porn Solicitation on Monday, April 13, one day before he was arrested on April 14.
The court records show he was held without bond during his first appearance in court on April 14. A decision on whether he would be released while awaiting trial or continue to be held without bond was scheduled to be determined during an April 15 bond hearing. The outcome of that hearing could not be immediately determined.
Maryland
Evan Glass is leaning on his record. Is that enough for Montgomery County’s top job?
Gay county executive candidate pushing for equitable pay, safer streets, and cleaner environment
By TALIA RICHMAN | During a meet-and-greet at Poolesville Memorial United Methodist Church, Evan Glass got his loudest applause of the night with a plan he acknowledged was decidedly unsexy.
“Day one, I’ll hire a director of permitting services,” the county executive candidate said.
Doing so, he added, is a step toward easing the regulatory burdens that can stifle small businesses in Montgomery County.
The only problem? At least one of his fiercest competitors is making a similar pledge.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
District of Columbia
D.C. bar, LGBTQ+ Community Center to mark Lesbian Visibility Week
‘Ahead of the Curve’ documentary screening, ‘Queeroke’ among events
2026 Lesbian Visibility Week North America will take place from April 20-26.
This year marks the third annual Lesbian Visibility Week, run by the Curve Foundation. A host of events take place from April 20-26.
This year’s theme is Health and Wellness. For the Curve Foundation, the term “lesbian” serves as an umbrella term for a host of identities, including lesbians, bisexual and transgender women, and anyone else connected to the lesbian community.
The week kicks off with a flag-raising ceremony on April 19. It will take place in New York, but will be livestreamed for the public.
“Queeroke” is one of the events being held around the country. It will take place at various participating bars on April 23.
As You Are, an LGBTQ bar in Capitol Hill, is one of eight locations across the U.S. participating. Their event is free and 21+.
On April 24, the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center will hold a screening of “Ahead of the Curve,” a documentary about the founder of Curve, Franco Stevens. The event is free with an RSVP.
April 25, is Queer Women in Sports Day. And on April 26, several monuments in New York will be illuminated.
Virtual events ranging from health to sports will be made available to the public. Details will be released closer to the start of Lesbian Visibility Week. Featured events can be found on the official website.
Some ways for individuals to get involved are to use #LVW26 and tag the official Lesbian Visibility Week account on social media posts. People are encouraged to display their lesbian flags, and businesses can hand out pins and decorate. They can also reach out to local lawmakers to encourage them to issue an official Lesbian Visibility Week.
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