San Diego County Sheriff's Department: Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council

Press release from San Diego County Sheriff's Department:

02/18/2022 2:00 PM

Acting Sheriff Kelly Martinez has launched an open call for applicants to serve on the San Diego County Sheriff's Department LGBTQ+ Advisory Council.

As the chief law enforcement agency in the county, the Sheriff's Department's constituencies are not only large but diverse.  For this reason, Acting Sheriff Martinez seeks to reimagine the foundation of the Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council by expanding its membership to be more reflective of the needs of the communities we serve. 

The Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council will be made up of 15 members who represent all walks of life and experiences (i.e., religious, racial, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disabled and ethnic groups):

"The relationship between law enforcement and the LGBTQ+ community has seen significant progress throughout the years," said Acting Sheriff Martinez.  "My intention is to bolster that relationship through meaningful dialogue and relationships with a newly reestablished LGBTQ+ Advisory Council."

To accomplish this, Acting Sheriff Martinez is looking for candidates with lived experience, such as those who have been justice-involved, in order to identify issues of concern, as well as to share insights and recommendations that could impact relationships between the Sheriff's Department and the community.

"I look forward to enhancing the representation of the Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council because hearing from community members sheds light on the intersectionality and experiences of diverse populations which will assist us when developing policy and trainings," said Acting Sheriff Martinez.

All Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council members must live in San Diego County.  Applications will be evaluated based on:

Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2022.  To apply online, click here.

In 2013, former Sheriff William Gore established the department's first LGBTQ+ Advisory Council to work with the department on issues of concern and to share insights and recommendations that could impact relationships between the Sheriff's Department and the community.  The Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council is a voluntary appointed group of community members.

The accomplishments of the Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council to date include:

This press release was produced by San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.