HPPD Safe Place Program

Highland Park is an attractive and desirable place to live, work, and visit. Highland Park is also one of the most progressive in Middlesex County; however, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual/Ally (LGBTQ+) residents and visitors still experience crimes and discrimination related to their identities. HPPD is committed to the safety of all LGBTQ+ residents and visitors.

Highland Park Police Department (HPPD) SAFE PLACE is a signage program being implemented around the Borough, where local supporting community members, businesses, schools, and organizations, have the opportunity to visibly display their support for the LGBTQ+ community and work closely with the Highland Park Police Department in an effort to encourage reporting and reducing anti-LGBTQ+ crimes.

Participating entities will serve as locations supporting safe and secure places for LGBTQ+ victims to go when they experience crimes, discrimination and/or harassment. Calling 911 and waiting for police to respond is imperative for suspect accountability, reducing crimes of hate, and showing a borough wide “no tolerance” policy toward discrimination.

In addition to the 911 police response to these type of incidents, HPPD has LGBTQ+ liaison officer, Officer Dean promotes the partnership efforts between the Highland Park Police Department and the LGBTQ+ community. Officer Dean can also be a resource in answering questions you may have. Please utilize Officer Dean’s email, cdean@hpboro.com.

HPPD Safe Place Mission

To provide the LGBTQ+ community with signage and resources that provide easily accessible safety information.

HPPD Safe Place is designed to enhance the relationship between the Highland Park Police Department, the LGBTQ+ community, local businesses, schools and allies. HPPD will provide SAFE PLACE decals to local businesses, schools, organizations, and allies encouraging those locations and entities to clearly post the signage at the entrances to their premise as a symbol of safety for the victims of LGBTQ+ crime and a warning sign to those who would commit these types of criminal acts.

Displaying the HPPD Safe Place Decal

Displaying the HPPD SAFE PLACE decal at your location carriers some important responsibilities that will greatly assist in protecting LGBTQ+ victims of crimes. The HPPD SAFE PLACE symbol of safety will be recognized by residents and visitors and will indicate that your business, school, organization or premise is willing to assist and protect these LGBTQ+ victims. To execute this concept effectively, the Highland Park Police Department would like you to instruct your staff, employees, supervisors, managers, teachers, volunteers, counselors, and/or students, etc. of the following protocol:

• Please apply the HPPD SAFE PLACE decal outside the front entrance of your establishment, building, room, etc. (approx. 3-5 feet high, if possible). If there is no glass at your front entrance, the HPPD SAFE PLACE decal can be placed conspicuously inside your premise.
• Please allow these victims to enter and remain at your premise until Highland Park police officers arrive.
• Please either call, or assist these victims in calling, 911.

Request for HPPD Safe Place Decals

Safe Place Decals (5.2”x 5”) are provided FREE of charge. These decals are specifically designed for businesses, schools, organizations, and allies to post at or near the front entrance to their premise as a symbol of safety for victims of LGBTQ+ related crimes and as a warning to criminal offenders.  Safe Place stickers are not to be displayed in private residences.