Area law enforcement steps up patrols around mosques, increases visibility in LGBT communities

Some Southland law enforcement agencies have increased their visibility in the LGBT community while others are stepping up patrols around mosques in the wake of Sunday’s deadly shooting spree by a lone gunman at a gay club in Orlando.

Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Downing, who oversees the department’s counter-terrorism bureau, said they are doing “more focused high-visibility patrols” in its LGBT communities in the wake of Sunday’s shooting spree that killed 50 people and wounded dozens more in Orlando.

“It’s contacts, eye to eye, face to face, saying ‘we’re here if you need us,’” Downing said, citing Hollywood, parts of the Westside and parts of South Los Angeles as areas where such patrols are taking place. “We wanted to let you know the Orlando incident doesn’t have any local implications here but if you need us call us and just refresh those relationships.”

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has increased patrol checks to all area mosques that fall under its jurisdiction as a result of the Orlando shooting, said Sgt. Mike Abdeen, the sergeant in charge of the department’s Muslim Community Affairs Unit.

Because the U.S.-bo gunman Omar Mateen was believed to be Muslim, law enforcement and community members are being vigilant of any potential backlash towards Muslim communities.

“We’ve asked deputies to visit mosques, Islamic centers and to assure the community of our support and to make sure no unusual activities are happening and to be visible out there,” Abdeen said.

While the department normally increases patrols of mosques on Friday afteoons during the holy month of Ramadan, which started earlier this month, “now, especially because of the Orlando event, we have increased patrol checks at all hours, especially in the evening hours,” he said.

Neither Downing nor Abdeen had heard of any threats to either the LGBT community or the Muslim community in their jurisdiction but they are encouraging any incidents or threats to be reported.

Downing said he had a conference call Sunday with several area Muslim leaders “to say be on the lookout for any kind of backlash, hate incidents, hate crimes” and “make sure you get us involved right away so we can nip it in the bud and investigate it.”

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