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| Officer Darlene Harris is the Atlanta Police Department’s
new gay liaison. (Photo by Andrew Keegan) |
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HOME > NEWS > LOCAL
By: ANDREW KEEGAN
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The Atlanta Police Department announced last week the appointment of Officer
Darlene Harris as its new gay liaison. The position had been vacant since Sgt.
Connie Locke, the department’s first gay liaison officer, retired in August.
Harris, 32, a lesbian who lives with her partner and two children in DeKalb
County, joined the department in 2003. Prior to taking the gay liaison post,
she worked as a patrol officer in Zone 2, which encompasses Buckhead.
“I’m excited and eager to get out there and see where I can help,”
Harris said Dec. 5. “I feel I can only enhance what Sgt. Locke has done.”
Locke, a law enforcement consultant who remains active in the Atlanta Police
Retired Reserve Unit, said Harris has a “take-charge” and “can-do”
attitude that will benefit her greatly in her new role.
“My advice to her would be to stay true to her commitment and vision
for the unit,” Locke said in an email interview Dec. 6.
Police Chief Richard Pennington created the gay liaison post shortly after
taking over as head of the Atlanta Police Department in July 2002. Locke was
appointed to the position in October 2002.
Pennington wanted the position filled within a month of Locke’s August
departure, but the process took longer than anticipated, according to Sylvia
Abernathy, a police spokesperson.
Abernathy said Pennington selected Harris following personal interviews.
“The appointment of Officer Harris reflects Chief Pennington’s
commitment that all the city’s population is represented,” Abernathy
said. “By its very nature this position is pro-active.”
Prior to joining the APD, Harris served as an officer with the New York State
Police for six years until relocating to Atlanta in 2003. Her family has a history
in law enforcement. In 1997, Harris was shot in the face by a gunman shooting
at a family member.
On the Atlanta police force, Harris said she considers herself “one
of Connie’s children,” as she closely followed Locke’s work.
She was a part of Locke’s “Out Officers Team” and attended
department meetings hosted by the gay liaison.
Harris, whose first official act as gay liaison was attending the Seventh
National Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 19, said her primary goal is
“getting her face out there.”
“I want to let people know I’m here,” Harris said.
Harris said her biggest challenge will be “pleasing both sides.”
“But in all honesty, I realize you can’t please everyone,”
she added. “But I will do my best.”
Part of being the department’s gay liaison is searching for avenues
to educate fellow officers, according to Harris, who plans to expand a sensitivity
training program for new recruits initiated by Locke.
“I want to broaden that in that the current program is voluntary. I
am planning on bringing in an improv theater group to interact with the entire
recruiting class,” Harris said.
Harris said she is also compiling a list of “gay lingo” that will
be distributed to both new recruits and existing officers.
“It’s important everyone is on the same page and realizes what
is offensive,” she said.
Harris said she plans to continue the GLBT Police Advisory Group convened by
Locke. The purpose of the group, which Harris described as “vital,”
is to promote communication between gay Atlantans and the police department.
Since the group worked directly with the gay liaison, it was put on hiatus
when Locke retired. Applications for the new panel were solicited through the
agency’s website and are still being accepted, Harris said.
The panel consists of members representing specific areas: Business/Bars,
Transgender, Youth, Events, Non-Profits, Homeowners and People of Color. Harris
said she will select the panel after conducting interviews to determine “who
can contribute the most.”
The seven-member group will meet once a month and will be the “eyes
and ears” for the gay liaison, Harris said.
The first monthly meeting has yet to be scheduled.
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