Palm Springs Police to Hold LGBTQ Town Hall

Chief Andy Mills to address attendees of LGBTQ Town Hall

PALM SPRINGS — From the moment he burst onto the scene, Police Chief Andy Mills has been viewed as a friend to the LGBTQ community. On Tuesday, June 6, he will undoubtedly deepen that bond when he addresses an LGBTQ Town Hall.

The event will take place tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Hunter’s, located on Arenas.

This gathering presents a valuable opportunity to hear directly from Chief Andy Mills and members of the Palm Springs Police Department’s LGBTQ Outreach Committee, Tamara Wadkins, Police Media Relations PIO, said in a statement.

“They will shed light on the pressing issues that are currently impacting us locally,” Wadkins said.

The Police Department has done a “handful” of similar town hall meetings in the past (pre-pandemic), Wadkins said.

“But this will be the first one for Chief Mills,” she said.

Mills found early favor with the LGBTQ community in 2021 when he walked along Palm Canyon Drive to celebrate the return of the 2021 Pride Parade. Thousands of revelers lined the streets. It’s worth noting that Mills had not officially started his duties as chief of police.

He has had the community’s back from that day forward.

About a year later, on Nov. 20, 2022, Mills posted the following on social media.

@PalmSpringsPD and all officers and staff express our sadness & outrage at the #clubQ shooting in Colorado Springs. Please know we love and appreciate our #LGBTQ+ neighbors and will do everything w in our power to create a safe space to love, live, work and play. I am in touch w police leaders in Colorado and will make security adjustments as needed. I know some of our friends feel vulnerable for merely existing. We want you to feel and be safe in @cityofps we are dedicated to your safety.

After reading the post, an openly gay Palm Springs businessman posted, “I’m diggin’ this guy.”

Another openly gay public official posted to social media, “Best Chief in my 40 years here and I’ve dealt with them all.”

The Town Hall coincides with Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, which sparked a movement for LGBTQ+ rights and activism. Pride Month spans the month of June each year, starting on Thursday, June 1 and ending on Friday, June 30.