"What few of the television programs and movies ever show is what
goes on behind the badge in the private lives of these extraordinary
people. The stories told in this book are even more unique and have
rarely, if ever, been told."
"The assistant chief told me that this same lieutenant had come to
him to “express concerns about my lifestyle.” … I could feel my
entire body heat up and my face get red. I felt a type of pain,
anger, and fear at the same time like at no other point in my law
enforcement career."
"My life changed forever that night and all for the better. …I have
never been more scared of anything than I was that night. Once it
was over, I felt more relief, more liberation and more free than at
any other point in my life."
More About "Coming Out From Behind The Badge"
Law enforcement is a noble career that demands
courage and personal commitment to serve our communities and society
as a whole. Law enforcement personnel who are gay, lesbian, or
bisexual have to have another kind of courage to be successful in a
largely conservative and often times homophobic profession.
We look to law enforcement officers to be role
models, community leaders, and in some ways, "heroes." But
even law enforcement officers need good role models to be successful
and this is particularly important for current or aspiring law
enforcement officers who happen to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
Law enforcement as a whole needs strong gay, lesbian, and bisexual
personnel to be out at work in order to correct the misinformation,
misperceptions, and definitions of what it means have a sexual
orientation other than heterosexual.
"Coming Out From Behind The Badge" is a book
about being gay, lesbian, or bisexual in law enforcement.
It will include stories from law enforcement personnel who have come
out as gay, lesbian, or bisexual while preparing for or while
working in law enforcement. The goal of this book is to
inspire those who are still in the closet to step out "from behind
the badge" and live their lives fully as their true selves. It
is also hoped that this book will help the straight members of law
enforcement better understand the internal and deeply personal
struggles many of their own co-workers are dealing with on the job.
Let me share with you a quick story.
In 2005, a 24 year old officer was found dead
in his apartment after taking his own life. Responding
officers found no note and no obvious reason for his decision to
commit suicide. He was a highly successful officer who loved
law enforcement. His apartment was full of pictures of him in
uniform, working with his friends, and of other fellow officers.
He had no sign of a girlfriend and among all of the pictures, there
were none with any women. His fellow officers were stunned.
His friends talked about knowing this officer, but only about small
pieces of his life. Those who were closest to him said they
never saw him with a girl and some speculated that he might be gay.
The officers investigating this young officer’s death suspected the
same. Why did he take his own life?
No one will ever know for sure, but how
incredibly sad it would be if this highly successful officer who was
so loved by his co-workers decided that he couldn’t be who he was
out of fear of being rejected by those he loved and cared for so
much. How sad it would be if he felt so trapped by being gay
and a cop that he didn’t see the possibility of being both at the
same time. My friends, that is what this book is all about.
He is the officer who this book is intended to help and to save.
