Gregory Abbink

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Since 2003, Gregory Abbink has been a senior police officer for the Austin Police Department (APD), TX, and is currently assigned as a Continuing Education Instructor at their Training Academy. Officer Abbink has collaborated in developing courses in writing departmental policy addressing respectful engagement and interaction with all segments of the LGBTQ+ community. Officer Abbink played a role in writing his department’s search policy so that it is in line with national best practices when searching transgender and gender non-binary individuals. He created a unique class to teach cadets and officers how to engage the transgender, gender non-binary, and gender fluid members of the community with respect and dignity. In addition to the transgender class Officer Abbink developed, he teaches other in-service classes such as Police Legitimacy/Procedural Justice, Tactical Report Writing, CPR/First Aid, Community Policing, Resolving Conflict, Surviving and Thriving in a Toxic Work Environment, and police emergency driving and Precision Immobilization Technique.

Over the past several years, Officer Abbink has worked on implementing new policies and procedures within the APD and took part in developing a human resources guidebook to assist City of Austin employers and employees titled, ‘Guidelines Supporting Transgender, Gender Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse Employees’. He has been a driving force in the APD’s continuing efforts to make sure all segments of Austin’s diverse community are treated with the same amount of professionalism, respect and dignity. Officer Abbink discusses the steps that law enforcement can take to better their understanding of people’s individual identities and how our respectful interactions can have a significant impact on gaining trust and legitimacy with members of a community who are still very marginalized.

Before joining APD, Officer Abbink proudly served four years in the United States Army as a linguist. Originally from Upstate NY, Officer Abbink now enjoys spending time with his wife and 12-year-old son on their 17 acres in Lexington, TX, with their dwarf goats and mini donkey.

Greg can be contacted at GAbbink@safe-night.com you'd like to show.