LOS ANGELES – The Transgender Law Center applauded the L.A. Police Department Thursday for releasing new policies signed by Chief Beck to address police interactions with transgender individuals.
The new policies instruct police officers to be “respectful, professional, and courteous” to transgender people. Policies include treating transgender with respect, referring to them by preferred name, and using the appropriate pronouns when referring to the person’s gender identity.
The L.A. Police Department has also established policy that says a search or frisk shall not be performed for the purpose of determining the individual’s gender.
The LAPD said that they will be revising their Jail Operations Manual to include “the proper processing, housing, custody and protection of transgender individuals.”
“This is a huge victory for transgender people who may interact with the police, and for transgender inmates. It sets a great precedent for police departments nationwide,” said Masen Davis, Executive Director of Transgender Law Center. “We often receive calls from people who have experienced police harassment and experienced violence in prison, so we are thrilled that the LAPD is taking steps to remedy this tragic situation.”
