St. Paul police officials are working on the department’s first policy about interactions with transgender people and they’re asking people to weigh in at a meeting this month.
After Todd Axtell became police chief two years ago, he said there would be a full review of the department’s policies.
The department has some guidelines in various parts of its overall policy manual, but this is the first comprehensive policy for employees about interacting with people who are transgender or gender nonconforming, said Steve Linders, a department spokesman, on Tuesday.
“This policy is important because it reflects our commitment to treat everyone with respect and the dignity they deserve,” Axtell said Tuesday. “Frankly, it’s long overdue. This policy reflects the way our officers already treat people, but it’s good to have it formalized in writing so our expectations are clear to our community and officers alike.”
A community meeting is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. on July 31. Police officials say people can learn more about the policy and give feedback. It will be at the Richard Rowan Training Center, 600 N. Lafayette Road.
Highlights of the draft policy include:
- Police employees will address people by their preferred pronouns or names.
- People who are being searched can request a preference of officer gender, except in emergency circumstances.
- Officers can’t remove wigs or cosmetic items unless they pose a safety risk or are evidence.
- People can’t be “stopped, detained, frisked or searched for the purpose of determining their gender or to call attention to the person’s gender expression,” according to a draft version of the policy.
People can see the draft policy on the department’s website and provide feedback online.