The Springfield Police Department has named Lieutenant Jennifer Charleston as the Springfield Police Department’s LGBTQ+ liaison.
In this role, which has been in place since early this year, Lt. Charleston acts as a direct point of contact for community members to help foster positive relationships and address unique safety concerns within the LGBTQ+ community, among other roles. Lt. Charleston is a 20-year veteran of SPD who serves as the commander over the Community Services Section, center city zone and special events.
We want to reassure the citizens of Springfield that the SPD values and respects all members of our community, whether it’s the citizens we serve or the officers within our ranks. We also recognize the tumultuous past between law enforcement and the LGBTQ+ community in our country and will continue working together to further the level of trust and cooperation between the police and members of the LGBTQ+ community. As part of those efforts, SPD implemented the “Interaction with LGBTQ+ Individuals Policy” in February.
Find more information about Lt. Charleston, and the new policy, visit springfieldmo.gov/spd.