"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."
What People Are Saying...
"Coming Out From Behind The Badge" is a fine record of quality Police by police that happen to be Gay! I know many in my Australian State that have earlier, suffered criticism, even physical attacks from straight Officers, simply because they were known to be gay, yet those gay Officers continued to preform their duty as sworn professional police officers, with the same pride as those Officers not gay. Please do read this fine publication to understand more about those that protect - you! - Robert Bryant
This book is a MUST READ for anyone in law enforcement, especially if you are a supervisor or administrator for your department. This work is an insight into what it's like to be a gay cop from those who have had to live in the closet and come out on the job. The book also has several chapters on what to do if you are a leader in your department and are concerned with how your gay officers are balancing their personal life and work life together. As far as how this work is put together: I found it so easy to read that I couldn't put it down. If you are a gay person who wants to become an officer, you need to read this one! - Thomas Bell
This is an excellent book to read for inspirational stories about being out on the job in law enforcement. While you can't help but notice this profession is behind the times when it comes to dealing with homosexuality, it's wonderful to read these stories of men who are out and having successful careers in the police force. It's great to see these stories coming from various parts of our nation, not just from the more progressive metropolitan cities. Greg Miraglia does a fine job in accumulating these various stories and allowing each writer to keep his voice. While his own story is one of the more polished pieces, the strength of this book is not the actual writing itself, but in the positive stories that are told. A must read for those wanting to gain a better insight into the law enforcement profession. - Tony Pennacchio
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 includes 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.
