Police

WASHINGTON — Despite growing awareness of hate crimes, the share of those crimes reported to police has fallen in recent years as more victims of violent attacks express doubt that police can or will help. [ Read more → ]

The Minneapolis city council on Friday confirmed 25-year veteran officer Janee Harteau as the city's new Chief of Police, and in doing so Harteau becomes the first woman and first openly gay officer to serve as police chief. [ Read more → ]

ROME, Italy -- An official of the Italian Carabinieri -- the national police of Italy -- on Wednesday issued a public apology and after being forced to change a training manual that listed homosexuality as a "sexual deviance" in the same category as bestiality, incest and necrophilia. [ Read more → ]

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Police Department celebrated Pride 2012 by changing the banner on the department's website to reflect its "commitment to diversity and equality." [ Read more → ]

BOSTON -- A Tea Party rally in Boston on Sunday -- featuring guest speakers from two noted anti-gay hate groups -- drew a crowd of counter protesters from LGBT advocacy group Join the Impact Massachusetts and members of the Occupy movement, and led to arrests of at least three people. [ Read more → ]

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Police Department has become the first police department in the county to produce an "It Gets Better" video, part of the nationwide campaign to end suicides among LGBT youth, and to bring awareness to bullying of of gay kids. [ Read more → ]

The North Wales Police Department on Friday said that it will be reinforcing its commitment to equality and diversity by displaying rainbow flag stickers at police front counters across its jurisdiction to encourage LGBTQ people to report anti-gay bias-based crimes. [ Read more → ]

A Los Angeles police sergeant who claimed he was harassed because he is gay, and then retaliated against for reporting the incidents, was awarded $1.1 million by a jury on Thursday. [ Read more → ]

Two Denver police officers were dismissed on Friday for their involvement in a controversial beating a gay man almost two years ago that was captured on police surveillance video. [ Read more → ]

PHILADELPHIA -- A gay couple has filed harassment and brutality charges against the local police department, and claim they were taken out of their homes and beaten in the snow by 10-12 officers with batons. Several neighbors reportedly have photographs and video. [ Read more → ]