The Hampton Roads region now has six police departments with liaisons to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The Virginian-Pilot reports Suffolk is one of the latest cities to join in. The liaisons who started there in January are detectives Tiffany Whitten, who is gay, and Sean Rowan, who is heterosexual. The city of Hampton recently created similar positions, as well.

The Suffolk detectives say it's important to maintain a line of communication with the community, whose members might not always feel comfortable talking to police.

The liaisons spoke with the public in a LGBTQ Town Hall on Saturday, following a "Sister March" earlier in the day.

LGBT liaison for Virginia Beach, Sergeant Shelly Meister, said in that town hall, "As a lesbian, I'm afraid of what the next four years will hold. So I know exactly where you're coming from. It's a weird dichotomy,” she said.

Police representatives talked about the effectiveness of police liaisons and the growing need in each city department.

Newport News Police announced the possibility of his department adopting the position.

“I want to come from a place of positivity, so I’m hoping for the best,” said Sgt. Meister.

Hampton Roads Pride, a nonprofit that serves the LGBT community, approached Suffolk about having liaisons. The president of the group says police departments have been very receptive.