Skilled As An Anti-Bullying Presenter, Morris County Sheriff's Office Investigator Ashley Craig Is Designated Office LGBTQ Law Enforcement Liaison
Published on August 02, 2019
Morris County Sheriff's Office Investigator Ashley Craig has been named the Office's LGBTQ Law Enforcement Liaison who will work collaboratively with Garden State Equality, New Jersey's largest advocacy and education organization for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.
From left, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Dave D'Amico, Chief Investigator of the Middlesex County Department of Corrections and a board member of Garden State Equality; Sheriff's Investigator Ashley Craig; Sheriff's Detective Lieutenant Denise Thornton; and New Jersey State Police Lieutenant John Hayes, a member of the LGBTQ Law Enforcement Liaison Program.
A board member of the non-profit Garden State Equality and a member of the LGBTQ Law Enforcement Liaison program, which was created in 2018, met this week with Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Sheriff's Office Detective Lieutenant Denise Thornton and Investigator Craig, who works in the Office's Community Outreach and Planning Section.
Investigator Craig's role as liaison is to provide support to law enforcement officers in the LGBTQ community who may not feel fully comfortable being out in their local towns, communities and departments. The program also is designed to build stronger relationships between local LGBTQ communities and police officers through sensitivity training and community engagement programs and events.
I am very proud that the Morris County Sheriff's Office has taken this step forward to ensure an environment of inclusion, peace and safety for all individuals and law enforcement officers in the LGBTQ community in Morris County, said Sheriff Gannon.
It is important for the public to know, and especially the LGBTQ community, that we in law enforcement have their backs and protect and serve everyone equally no matter who they love or how they identify, said New Jersey State Police Lieutenant John B. Hayes, the first openly-gay State Trooper and LGBTQ Liaison for the New Jersey State Police who met with the Morris County Sheriff's Office.
Investigator Craig, who already gives anti-bullying presentations to children and young adults on behalf of the Sheriff's Office, said she welcomes the role as liaison.
I'm very excited for the opportunity to bridge this agency and the LGBTQ community, Investigator Craig said.