Staying safe in Midtown can be a challenge for any gay. A tough economy now mixed with a holiday time of year made for nightlife partying brings out the criminals looking for easy prey. Good thing, then, that the rules of staying safe are similar to those you use to cruise. Lt. Brent Schierbaum (photo), the gay cop who oversees the Atlanta Police Department's Community Liaison Unit and reports to another gay cop, offered his tips to staying safe this holiday season in a video interview with Midtown Patch. Schierbaum has marched with other LGBT officers in the Atlanta Pride parade and defended the agency during a public forum after the botched Eagle raid. The takeaway from Schierbaum's tips? The same rules you should employ for better cruising: Don't flash your bling, always take a wingman (or wingwoman), avoid poorly lit areas, trust your instincts, react if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, and have a sober friend help make smart choices for your drunk ass. Watch the video.