NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro Nashville Police Department officials announced today the appointment of the first MNPD full-time liaison to Nashville's LGBTQ community.
Officer Catie Poole, a five-year veteran of the police department, was named by Chief Steve Anderson as the new liaison today.
Officer Poole recently served as a downtown bicycle officer in the Central Precinct but have now been transferred to headquarters where she will be "continuing effort to build stronger relationships throughout the city while listening to ideas and concerns of our citizens,” Chief Anderson said. “I truly look forward to Officer Poole’s updates as she builds this program.”
There are three main areas Officer Poole will be focusing on in this new position. According to the statement released by MNPD these areas are: Attending community meetings and being attentive/responsive to those who call upon her for advice/guidance; Being an advocate for MNPD members of the LGBTQ community; And assuring that places exist where persons can safely report suspected hate crimes to the police department. Officer Poole will be working with businesses to create a Safe Place Program, first begun by the Seattle Police Department, where persons can safely wait as a police officer responds to a reported hate crime call.
“I am excited and honored to take on this new responsibility for our police department. I want to help you, that's why I joined this job to begin with. So the more opportunities you give to help you the better off I'll be and the more fulfilled I'll be. So please reach out. We want everybody to know that we are here, we support you and if you're having issues we want to know about,” Officer Poole said.
This comes after five Metro Nashville Police officers and two sergeants were reprimanded after an investigation into the online shaming of a transgender person.
Citizens wanting to contact Officer Poole with an invitation to a community meeting, or with questions or concerns can call her office, 615-862-7822, or send an email to catherine.poole@nashville.gov
