El Paso City Council discusses police gender-diverse policies

UPDATE:  The El Paso Police Department presented it's new gender inclusive policies which will affect interactions with the community. 

The new policy is called “Constitutional Policing.”

Council previously asked for these changes to improve how transgender and gender diverse individuals are identified by EPPD. 

Some of those changes include having the officer ask a every person they encounter what their preferred name is, gender identity and pronouns. Police said under this policy, they’ve agreed to do this for all citizens. They said they will simply ask, “How would you like to be referred to?”

Police said when possible, they will also have officers who conduct a frisk say the reasons leading to reasonable suspicion that the officer or others were in danger. They will include these factors in the report. 

Police add internal affairs will produce a quarterly report documenting the complaints received during each quarter of allegations of bias-based policing. 

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Tuesday El Paso City Council discussed the development of additional Police Department policies in regards to gender-diverse individuals and bias-free policing.

Council also watched a presentation and get an update on behalf of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Cross Functional Team.

This item on the agenda was previously postponed twice on Dec. 12, 2023 and Jan. 17, 2024.