The Police Liaison Committee held its first meeting under its new leadership last week, with officers and members formulating plans to expand the committee’s influence in and connection to the local LGBT community.
Franny Price, who was elected last month as chair of the committee called the agency’s Jan. 14 meeting “very, very productive.”
The group took care of numerous organizational developments at the meeting, such as compiling the updated list of all its members.
In addition to Price, committeemembers include secretary Rick Lombardo, Ralph Riviello, Fred Bostwick, Jaci Adams, Jack Barry, Brian Green, Matt Miller, Irene Benedetti, Marcus Barnes and Michael Weiss, as well as youth participants Christopher Gillis and Johnte Price. Chief Inspector James Tiano, police LGBT liaison, and Sgt. Jefferson Campbell and Officer Mitchell Spritzler are also part of the committee.
Price said she wants LGBT residents to be familiar with the members so they can feel comfortable reaching out to them for support.
“We’re really from everywhere, from all subcultures of the community, and I think it’s important that people know who we are and that we’re there for them,” Price said. “If they need to file a report or need information and don’t feel comfortable coming to the police or to the entire committee, people will likely know at least one person on the committee that they would feel comfortable with going to for help.”
During the meeting, the group members also discussed the need for an expanded presence in other areas of the city besides the Gayborhood.
“One of the unique things about our community is that we’re not just designated to one certain area, but we’re really everywhere. Most people know of the Gayborhood because of the gay bars, but now there’s also the Gayborhood North and South,” Price said, referring to the flourishing LGBT communities in the Northern Liberties and East Passyunk areas, also noting a growing LGBT presence in Northeast Philadelphia.
“We want our entire community in all of Philadelphia safe, not just in the traditional Gayborhood, so we’re going to try to get representatives from all the different areas of the city to get involved,” Price said.
In addition to bringing on new members from these areas, the committee itself will reach out to these communities.
Next month, the group will embark on separate neighborhood tours with Renee Gillinger, executive director of the East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District, and Dan Contarino, assistant general manager of Darling’s Diner at the Piazza at Schmidt’s in Northern Liberties. Price said the tours will help members to become more familiar with the areas, their businesses and residents, as well as acquaint the locals with the group and its mission.
“This is mainly for the awareness, for the public to know that we have this committee out there that you can come to,” Lombardo said. “If you are a victim of a crime you need to immediately report it to police, but if you have any problems or need any help, this committee is here for you.”
Price noted that Gillis and Johnte Price also plan to bring the committee into The Attic Youth Center in the coming weeks.
The committee also discussed plans for a DVD that Tiano’s office is producing that will be used to raise awareness among the police department about LGBT hate crimes.
Tiano said the three-and-a-half-minute video will be presented during roll calls at districts throughout the city and will instruct officers on the need for sensitivity when working with LGBT victims and proper procedure for handling such crimes.
The DVD is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
Price said the meeting set the tone for what she expects to be a productive year.
“It was a very exciting, progressive meeting where everyone participated. I think it’s going to be a good year for this committee and our community.”
Chief Inspector Tiano can be reached at (215) 685-3655. The Police Liaison Committee can be reached at (215) 600-0627 or [email protected].
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].