Mission Statement

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department LGBTQ+ Advisory Council's mission is to identify and bring issues of concern from individuals and organizations within the LGBTQ+ communities to the attention of the Sheriff and department staff for preemptive and collaborative resolution. 

The Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council was created in 2013. It is a voluntary appointed group of community leaders, organizers, activists and advocates from LGBTQ+ communities. 

The Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council was created to work with the department on issues of concern, as well as to share insights and recommendations that could impact relationships between the Sheriff's Department and the community. 

Council members meet with the Sheriff and her staff to discuss department policies and procedures, as well as ways to enhance the department's efforts to improve its services to the County of San Diego, specifically its LGBTQ+ community members. 

Sheriff's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council members are also expected to engage the broader community of local networks, community members and stakeholders with the information shared by the Sheriff's Department and expand the community's understanding of our policies and procedures.

Areas of Focus

• Improve public safety for the LGBTQ+ community.
• Maintain open communication that builds trust between our communities and the Sheriff's Department.
• Meets as needed with the Sheriff or Sheriff personnel on time-sensitive matters of interest to the LGBTQ+ communities.
• Provides input, feedback, and guidance to Sheriff on matters of interest to the LGBTQ+ communities.
• Promote and encourage deputy training about cultural competencies while expanding the community’s understanding of the policies and procedures of the Sheriff's Department.
• Provides representation at meetings and events as requested by the Sheriff.

LGBTQ+ Outcomes and Accomplishments within The Sheriff's Department

• Cultural Sensitivity and Implicit Bias Training
• LGBTQ+ Law Enforcement Summit
• Jail Tours
• Transgender Youth Training to Juvenile Services Unit Detectives (JSU) and School Resource Officers (SROs)
• Detentions Operations
• LGBTQ+ Information Bulletin for Law Enforcement:
  • Booking
  • Intake Screening and Classification
  • Searches
  • Housing
• Sheriff's Transgender, Intersex and Non-Binary Inmates Policy & Procedure
• Workplace Gender Transition Guide
• Detentions LGBTQ+ cultural competencies training with the San Diego History Center and San Diego Pride
• San Diego Pride Parades
• LGBTQ+ Department Liaison
• Regional Academy training to new recruits

Meet Our LGBTQ+ Liaisons 

Lieutenant Mike Gonzales

"I have been with the Department for 18 years and have worked Patrol, Analysis Driven Law Enforcement, Area Investigations and Homicide. I am currently in the Office of the Sheriff assigned as the Special Assistant. I am looking forward to enhancing the mutual support between the LGBTQ community and law enforcement. I come from a law enforcement family. I am a San Diego transplant having grown up in Orange County. My husband and I live in East County with our 2.5-year-old son." 

Deputy Sarah Mott

"The military brought me to San Diego. During that time, I found the LGBTQ+ community and myself. This is also where I met my wife, with whom I started a family. When I separated from the military, I knew that I wanted to continue serving the community in San Diego and the Sheriff's department provided me this opportunity. I have been with the Department for 5 years and I am excited to step into this role as an advocate for the community that I call my own. My goal and hopes are that I can help create meaningful and well received trainings for the department and for the community, helping to build a better understanding between all parties."