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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) – Annapolis Police Department is becoming the latest law enforcement agency to create an LGBTQ liaison.
The new position was largely driven by the creation of Annapolis Pride, according to a press release.
Sgt. Amy Miguez, who has been serving as the agency’s spokesperson, will now be the police department’s first liaison on lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer issues, according to a press release.
The liaison will work with other police divisions to educate community stakeholders about LGBTQ issues and will focus on specific needs of the LGBTQ community and their allied communities.
Police departments in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the City of Rockville are among those with a similar liaison.
For more information, contact Sgt. Amy Miguez at 410-268-9000 ext. 7261 or amiguez@annapolis.gov.
CAPITAL GAZETTE: Annapolis police announce new LGBTQ liaison
The Annapolis police department announced Sgt. Amy Miguez as its first LGBTQ liaison Wednesday.
Miguez will help the department better reach the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community, which is adversely affected by hate crimes.
“If having a liaison helps anyone realize you are valid, you’re real, you’re out there and people are going to try to help you,” the position will be worth it, Miguez said.
Miguez is straight, but has experience working at a community level because of her position as public information officer. She expressed interest in creating the position after talking with her friend and Annapolis Pride founder Jeremy Browning.
Browning pointed to the Human Rights Campaign’s municipal equality index, where Annapolis scored a 12 out of 22 in equitable law enforcement because it did not have an LGBTQ liaison.
Miguez will work with the department to help victims better report hate crimes and to educate her fellow officers on the needs of LGBTQ community members.
For instance, police officers might not know to ask the victim of a crime for their preferred pronouns when filing a police report. Miguez will also serve as a point person for members of the LGBTQ community.
“Nationwide it’s been an issue to have people come forward to report crime in those communities because of historic prejudice and things lik that,” she said. “We have people coming in and out of the community … and we certainly want them to know Annapolis is a place where we’re concerned for everyone’s safety, it doesn’t matter what orientation is.”
Miguez will continue to serve as the department public information officer on top of her duties as LGBTQ liaison.