Monmouth County Prosecutors look to build LGBTQ ties in the community and within – Asbury Park Press
Over the past several months, top leaders of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office have emphasized the twin tenets of equality and justice and that no one, anywhere, should have to fear who they are, including as a law enforcement officer.
When Lori Linskey took office as the Monmouth County’s chief law enforcement officer in June, she said one of her main priorities was to improve relations between the LGBTQ+ community and law enforcement across the county.
Against that backdrop on Wednesday, officials across the state gathered to herald the launch of the MCPO LGBTQ+ Law Enforcement Liaison Program and the SAFE PLACE Program — two key initiatives that aim to improve the relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and law enforcement, as well as expand anti-bias training for police.
“Like New Jersey at large, Monmouth County is a vibrant, diverse place where individuals hailing from countless different backgrounds come to live, work, and visit,” acting Prosecutor Linskey said Wednesday afternoon. “Every single one of them deserves to feel safe and welcomed here, and we plan to do everything in our power to ensure they always do.”
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In attendance at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office were local elected officials and police chiefs, numerous LGBTQ+ law enforcement liaisons from across the state and members of the MCPO executive leadership, as well as acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew Bruck – the first member of the LGBTQ+ community to serve as the state’s chief law enforcement officer.
“This is not about me, this is about you, this is about all of you working in Monmouth County today,” said Bruck, who is openly gay. “Initiatives like these empower members of the LGBTQ+ community by letting them know they have allies everywhere. I applaud acting Prosecutor Linskey for her leadership in bringing these meaningful programs to Monmouth County.”
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Through the SAFE PLACE program, officials look to expand the program to more than 50 law enforcement agencies across the county and designate a law enforcement liaison to serve as a connection point between law enforcement and the LGTBQ+ community.
The liaisons’ responsibilities include collaborating with the LGBTQ+ community to address issues of concerns and support the prosecutor’s office to serve to the public.
If sworn in, their responsibilities will include:
- With supervisory approval, attend events in the LGBTQ+ community as a representative of the MCPO;
- Meet with and provide a forum for business owners, community groups, schools, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, and present information on relevant law enforcement/community issues;
- Become fully familiar with the Attorney General’s Bias Incident Investigation Standards and the definitions of bias incidents and related criminal violations pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:16-1(a)(1) or (2);
- Assist, advise, and consult with MCPO Assistant Prosecutors and Detectives on cases involving the LGBTQ+ community or LGBTQ+ issues;
- Provide support, upon request, to LGBTQ+ staff members;
- Provide diversity trainings, with supervisory approval, at the Monmouth County Police Academy or in other forums, upon request; and
- Provide an annual report to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office on activities of the Liaison position and public safety trends related to the LGBTQ+ community.
The liaisons will also participate in the local implementation of the SAFE PLACE program, which is a public-private partnership centered on the reporting of bias incidents and hate crimes targeting any protected class of individuals — such as race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or ethnicity.
Additionally through the program, local participating businesses, school organizations, and schools will be given brightly colored decals to post prominently in any entrance area, allowing those who notice to know that location will provide a safe environment for someone to call 911 in any bias incident or hate crime, according to Linskey.
Every local business, school organization, or school across Monmouth County is eligible to participate in the program free of charge.
“The team here at Monmouth County always have my back,” said Middlesex County Chief Investigator David D’Amico, who was also the first openly gay corrections officer for the state Department of Corrections. “I want to say thank you to help any way we can to help Monmouth County and the LGBTQ+ community within this county to build a stronger relationship.”
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The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office became the 293rd such agency to implement the SAFE Place program in the United States, Canada and Europe to launch its own version, authorities announced.
“Through these two programs, members of our office and local police departments will be reaching out and making connections in their local communities,” Linskey said. “They’ll be listening to their constituents, having meaningful conversations, and effecting actual positive change. Making things like this possible is precisely why I took this job.”
The program will be piloted with the cooperation of the municipal leadership and police departments of Asbury Park, Long Branch, and Red Bank, while looking to expand to all locations countywide, according to Linskey.
During Wednesday’s event, the Pride flag was raised at the prosecutor’s office’s main entrance and will remain in place through Monday, October 11 — National Coming Out Day.
Joshua Chung is the 9-5 breaking news and weather reporter. A lifelong Jersey Shore resident, he is a recent graduate of Michigan State University. Contact him at jchung@gannettnj.com, 917-703-9373 or on Twitter @Joshchunggg