Graham writes Lanier on GLLU, hate crimes

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) sent the following message on Thursday to D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier:

Chief Lanier,

Please share with us when there will be a permanent appointment made to be in charge of the GLUU.

I am also concerned by the reduction of officers assigned to the GLUU. This is of particular concern given the size of our local LGBT community and the thousands of LGBT visitors and their families there are to the District every year. With only 4 officers on the unit, and in the absence of sustained training for other MPD officers, there appears to be a growing gap of trust and positive relationships between MPD and the LGBT community. This trend is particularly disappointing given where we were just 2 years ago when the GLUU was being recognized as a national model for community policing and very much appreciated by all of us in the LGBT community.

We are going in the wrong direction.

Finally, I am in receipt of the September 30 Report and Recommendations of the Police Complaints Board. Please let us know how MPD is responding to the Board’s three recommendations:

1. MPD and OPC should collaborate to establish a system to monitor complaints filed by both agencies that allege inadequate police response to a report of hate crime.
2. Mayor’s Office should comply with the requirement established by the DC Bias Related Crime Act to publish an annual summary of hate crimes data collected by MPD and to transmit the summary and recommendations to the Council.
3. MPD should utilize the existing framework of the Fair and Inclusive Policing Task Force and the DC Bias Crimes Task Force to address community concerns about police responsiveness to hate crime and work with its task force to ensure all constituencies receive education and outreach.

Bests, Councilmember Jim Graham

Thanks to Jim Graham for sending this message. We hope the Chief takes his concerns seriously.