West Hartford Police Department adopts new LGBT policy

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The West Hartford Police Department has adopted a new policy designed to help officers navigate cases and situations involving members of the town's LGBT community.

Chief Tracey Gove tells The Hartford Courant (http://cour.at/2aTKIXv ) that the policy offers guidance and direction to officers who may find themselves working in unfamiliar territory.

In dealing with transgender individuals, the policy states that officers should use that person's preferred name — which might not be their legal name or name on a government-issued ID. The policy also advises that officers should honor a request by a transgender person to be searched by an officer of a specific gender.

Lt. Eric Rocheleau says the policy wasn't enacted following a complaint or in response to any issues with the department's prior interactions with the LGBT community.

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Information from: Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.com

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Copyright 2016 The Gayly - 8/15/2016 @ 10:32 a.m.