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KPD liaison outlines training, recruitment and conference plans to boost trust with LGBTQ community
Summary
Knoxville Police Department Sergeant Phyllis Tonkin, the department's LGBTQ liaison, told the Police Advisory Review Committee she will attend the 2025 International LGBTQ Conference in Austin and is pursuing training, policy review and targeted recruiting to improve relationships and cultural competency.
Sergeant Phyllis Tonkin, the Knoxville Police Department's LGBTQ liaison officer, told the Police Advisory Review Committee she will attend the 2025 International LGBTQ Conference in Austin, Texas, and is pursuing training, policy review and recruitment to strengthen trust between the department and LGBTQ residents. "My role as the LGBTQ Liaison Officer is not just a title, it's a mission," Tonkin said.
Tonkin told the committee she intends to use conference materials and networking to develop brief, practical training for officers on respectful communication, documentation of gender identity and the specific concerns of victims in LGBTQ communities. "When we show cultural…
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