Transgender training urged for Fort Lauderdale police

The entire Fort Lauderdale Police Department should undergo extra training on how to properly treat transgender people, a city panel has decided.

The suggestion came Monday during a Citizens PoliceReview Board hearing for a police officer who categorized a transgender womanas male on a citation.

The board, which serves as a watchdog group over police, also decided the officer should receive a written reprimand for the incident.

“I think it’s fair,” said boardmemberMarc Dickerson. “It’s a matter of training and the officers need training.”

Officer James Brinton faced a complaint from Shelby Kendall after he pulled her over in January for reckless driving in a Camaro. DespiteKendall’s driver’s license saying she is female, Brinton changed the traffic citation to list her as male.

Brinton said he thought the information on the driver’s licensewas a mistake.

The additional training could mean officers are required to watch a 13-minute video from the U.S. DepartmentofJusticeandthen sign a document acknowledging that they saw the video. Dickerson said it could take a few weeks to get the entire Fort Lauderdale police force to see the video.

But before then, the department must agree to the training and the city manager’s office still has to sign off on issuing a letter of reprimand to Brinton for the incident.

Kendall, arealestateagent from Fort Lauderdale, said she “couldn’t have asked for more.”

“I just think the city is showing they’re willing to help others and make everyone feel welcome,” Kendall said, adding that she had no “hard feelings” toward Brinton.

Staff writerAndyReid contributed to this report.

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