Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey was honored to be joined today by LGBTQ+ Law Enforcement Liaisons from across the county and state, as well as prominent LGBTQ+ community leaders, for a ceremonial raising of the Pride Flag, which will remain up directly in front of MCPO headquarters for the remainder of June’s Pride Month.

We at MCPO are beyond proud to support our LGBTQ+ personnel and colleagues not only with words and gestures, but with action. Last October we launched the MCPO LGBTQ+ Law Enforcement Liaison Program, through which many of the more than 50 law-enforcement agencies across the county have now designated one or more department Liaisons; the designee(s) may be any sworn or civilian employee who identifies as LGBTQ+ (or as an ally) and wishes to serve as a connection point between law enforcement and the local LGBTQ+ community. The Liaisons collaborate with those communities to address issues of concern, participate in community events, advise MCPO Assistant Prosecutors and Detectives on cases involving LGBTQ+ issues, and conduct diversity trainings at the Monmouth County Police Academy or in other forums, upon request.

We also had our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters in mind when we launched our SAFE PLACE program last year. Simply put, the program offers anyone belonging to one of several federally protected classes of individuals (LGBTQ+ identity included) safe, secure locations from which to report bias incidents and/or hate crimes. Every local organization, business, house of worship, or government entity choosing to participate in SAFE PLACE – and there are now more than 150, countywide! – is given brightly colored decals for posting prominently in an entrance area, allowing anyone who spots them the assurance that representatives of the location and responding police officers will treat the reporting individual with care, dignity, and respect.

Our message to our constituents is simple. There is no place for hate in Monmouth County, and that’s non-negotiable. Love is love. And we fully endorse it, unequivocally, in all its forms.

“I want members of the LGBTQ+ community to feel that if they need help, they can call on law enforcement and know that they will be treated with dignity and respect in times of crisis,” Acting Prosecutor Lori Linskey told today’s audience. “What we do matters. What we do sends a message. And we must lead by example.”

Our sincerest thanks to our speakers today: Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino, NJSP Lt. John Hayes, and retired MCPO Detective and current Middlesex County Department of Corrections Chief Investigator David D’Amico. And our deepest gratitude to all of the various local law enforcement agencies that had individual representatives on hand, including Asbury Park Police Department Atlantic Highlands Police Department Englishtown Police Department Freehold Township Police Department Holmdel Township Police Department Long Branch Police Department Manasquan Borough Police Department Middletown Township Police Department Rumson Borough Police Department Sea Girt Police Department Spring Lake Police Department West Long Branch Police and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.