Annie Z. Yu

The Republic | azcentral.com

The Police Department%27s LGBT committee%2C formed in June%2C will focus on equal opportunity and inclusiveness

The committee is a proactive approach to identifying%2C preventing potential problems before they happen

Other cities have started focusing on LGBT issues%3A Tempe%27s charter amendment%2C Scottsdale%27s workplace equality pledge

The Chandler Police Department, aligning with a trend in other Valley cities, is expressing inclusiveness with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community through a new committee.

The department's LGBT Committee will attempt to strengthen relations and enhance hiring practices.

Phoenix, Tempe, Flagstaff and Tuscon ban LGBT discrimination, and last month Tempe became the first Arizona city to amend its charter to ban gay discrimination. Scottsdale City Council recently approved a pledge supporting LGBT workplace equality, which some say could be the first step toward the next anti-discrimination ordinance.

The Chandler Police Department committee was started by new Police Chief Sean Duggan, who came on board early this year as the department begins to prepare for major turnover. It will lose about 23 people over the next 18 months to scheduled retirements, Duggan said.

"We looked at our recruiting strategy, and one of the things we want to do is ensure that we reach out to candidates who best represent our community," Duggan said. "With that in mind, one area we didn't have much representation at all was the LGBT community."

Most of those slated to retire are in leadership positions, Duggan said. The Police Department is recruiting to fill positions so that the transition is as seamless as possible.

Committee co-chair Daniel Desjardins, a crime-scene supervisor, stressed that it's not about recruiting LGBT applicants, however. It's about sending an inclusive message.

"We don't look at those issues when we're hiring. We're looking for the best possible candidate," Desjardins said. "(We want to) make aware to the LGBT community through our contacts that we're open to anybody."

Although the city announced the news in early September, the committee began in June. It was not created in response to any specific need, problem or trend in Chandler, but rather as a proactive way to address situations before they happen, Desjardins said.

"The more you reach out to a disenfranchised (group), or a group that feels disenfranchised, before something happens, the better you are when an issue arises," Desjardins said. "That way we don't end up with a situation (like the one) going on in Ferguson (Missouri) right now.... The community won't be quick to judge us on our actions if they understand our actions and ... we have a relationship with them."

Chandler's Fire, Health & Medical Department faces a similar situation with regard to impending management retirements. It expects to replace all three assistant fire chiefs and the fire chief in the next four years. The former head of fire prevention, Tom Dwiggins, was promoted to assistant chief this year to fill the first vacated spot.

There are no available demographics or statistics about the LGBT community in Chandler, according to Leah Powell, the city's community resources and diversity manager.

Powell is the city's liaison to the LGBT community. She said LGBT employees often are afraid to "come out" at work, and the lack of statewide anti-discrimination laws in Arizona make it harder.

There were no reported hate crimes related to LGBT persons from 2009 to 2013, according to Sgt. Joe Favazzo, department spokesman.

"We don't really see that problem here, at all," Favazzo said.

Initially, Duggan sent an e-mail to the department about a single LGBT liaison position, but then created an entire committee when several people were interested, according to Desjardins.

The committee comprises six volunteers within the department, including co-chairs Desjardins and Sgt. Susan Freeman.

Desjardin said among reasons he joined committee is his experience working with the LGBT community. He said some of his friends and family members identify as LGBT.

"Our job is to protect and serve everybody in the city of Chandler," he said.

Powell said Chandler has focused on highlighting its LGBT-friendly policies especially after the 2013 Municipal Equality Index by the Human Rights Campaign gave Chandler a 34 out of 100 score.

The index scores cities on LGBT inclusion in municipal law. Phoenix was among 25 cities nationwide to receive a perfect 100, while Tempe received 72, Mesa 41 and Gilbert 33.

Chandler's original score was 22 but did not include credit for the city's equal-employment-opportunity policy.

"That brought even more into focus that we were doing things that maybe the public wasn't aware we were doing," Powell said.

Questions about the LGBT Committee? Contact co-chair Daniel Desjardins at Daniel.Desjardins@chandleraz.gov.