West Hollywood : Deputies, Gays Form Panel

The Sheriff’s Department and the city are forming a 10-person committee to deal with relations between the gay and lesbian community and sheriff’s deputies.

The committee will discuss issues such as hate crimes and recruitment of gay and lesbian deputies.

Gays and lesbians in West Hollywood have complained about poor treatment by the Sheriff’s Department and city officials have called for recruitment of gay and lesbian deputies.

Capt. Rachel Burgess of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station will appoint five deputies to the committee, while City Manager Paul Brotzman and a team of city officials will recruit five

members of the West Hollywood gay and lesbian community. The city will accept applications for the committee through March 30.

Burgess and the West Hollywood Gay and Lesbian Task Force decided to form the committee in response to concerns from the community.