SUBMITTED
Mayor Justin M. Bibb has reappointed Kevin Schmotzer as the LGBTQ+ Liaison for the City of Cleveland and selected Detective Heather Bruner as the LGBTQ+ Liaison in the Department of Public Safety and the Division of Police.
“I am pleased to announce these important appointments and I thank Detective Bruner and Mr. Schmotzer for their leadership and willingness to share their ideas and perspectives,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “Representation and inclusion are critical to create a thriving city for all Clevelanders and we are committed to advocating for and advancing LGBTQ+ equality.”
Schmotzer has worked for more than two decades in the city’s economic development department, where he serves as the city’s executive for small business development. He will continue in that role while collaborating with internal departments, individuals, social service organizations and coalitions to address the needs of the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community.
Bruner, a detective in Cleveland’s third district who has been with CDP since 2017, is the new LGBTQ+ Liaison in the Department of Safety and the Division of Police and the third person in the department to hold the position. Bruner will focus specifically on building relationships with the city’s LGBTQ+ community and the Division of Police. LGBTQ+ advocates also serve on various city boards including, but not limited to, the Community Relations Board, Workforce Development Board and the Police Review Board.
Both positions were first established in 2018 in order to strengthen the relationships between the police, City Hall, and Cleveland’s LGBTQ+ community.