LAPD Adopts Policy for Transgender Stops

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck has issued a new policy covering how officers must deal with members of the transgender community during stops and searches.

When an officer stops a man who's dressed as a woman, he must think twice before addressing the person as "sir" or "ma'am," the Associated Press reports.

The memo also bars officers from frisking individuals or questioning them for the sole purpose of learning their anatomical gender. As with non-transgender stops, when an immediate body search for weapons is required for safety, officers of any gender may conduct the search.