The Pittsfield Massachusetts Police Department’s new policies and procedures for conduct with transgender people—approved on Feb. 17 by the city’s policy advisory review board—could be a model step for police departments across the county.
The guidelines focus on “the appropriate conduct of interactions with transgender individuals who come into contact with and/or require the services of the Pittsfield Police Department,” reports iBerkshires, which explains:
The purpose of this policy and procedure statement is to establish guidelines for the appropriate conduct of interactions with transgender individuals who come into contact with and/or require the services of the Pittsfield Police Department.
“This really is important in the LGBTQ-plus community to feel that they will be treated with respect and dignity and not traumatized,” board member Drew Herzig said. “A lot of transgender people don’t go to doctor’s offices, they are afraid of falling into the hands of any sort of bureaucracy where they will be ridiculed, misgendered, that sort of thing.”
Herzig and Police Chief Michael Wynn collaborated to create this policy, which will get a final once over by Wynn. Some imperative themes covered in the document are gender expression, adopted names, non-removal of gender-confirming items, and detainees being held in a cell corresponding with their gender expression.
Some examples of new procedures include:
- Preliminary education for police staff, such a terminology around gender, sex, gender identity and gender expression
- Removing any language in procedures requiring individuals to provide proof of being transgender beyond announcing it
- Addressing transgender individuals by their adoptive name, even without legal recognition of this name, and including adopted name if booking
- Awareness that adoptive names don’t automatically equate to an attempt to hide or misrepresent one’s legal identity
- If detaining an individual, not removing clothing, wigs, hairpieces, makeup or other items (unless to check for contraband)
- If detained, individuals be placed alone in a cell, and post-booking placed in a cell that corresponds with their gender identity
“It is the policy of the Department to interact with the transgender community in a manner that is professional, respectful, and courteous,” the language states, notes iBerkshires. “Additionally, it is the Department’s policy to handle transgender arrestees in a manner that ensures they are processed and housed safely and efficiently to the greatest extent possible. Personnel of this department will not engage in activity that will embarrass, humiliate or otherwise shame transgender individuals.”
Read iBerkshires.com complete article here.
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