RenaissanceGuy

First of all, one doesn't normally think of - and this is not meant in any way as a slur - police departments in the south as being at all liberal. However, that being said, I'm thrilled to learn of the Dallas PD's stance on Officer Grabowski's transition and subsequent SRS. As a police officer with over 18 years experience as well as being someone who has dated and been engaged to a transsexual woman, I am well aware of the prejudices out there.

I felt I was in the minority in law enforcement, a liberal Democrat upholding the best traditions of that credo. In my early days on the job, I came across a young male crossdresser being harassed by some guys I had gone to school with. He went on his way, they went on theirs, but not before being issued several citations.

Years later, I had occasion to work as an investigator in a small town that had an alternative lifestyles nightclub. Several times a month, drag shows were held, and other nights were TG friendly nights. The initial reaction among the clientel when I either patrolled by or came in answer to a complaint was fear... but after explanations were exchanged, relief set in.

The issue isn't Deborah's transition or even her surgery, becoming a woman working in law enforcement. The real issue is a human being deserved of the dignity to which we all aspire. She is out there, on the street, laying her life on the line so that others may live free or die, to borrow from New Hampshire's state slogan.

To those of us in the job, we all bleed the same color... blue. To those of you outside the job, whom we're sworn to protect, serve and hear - whether we like it or not - think for a minute. Where would you be with these officers, gay and straight, black and white, Chicano and Asian, or born with a complete set of chromosomes or transgendered?

In a lot worse shape for my money!

Officer DC Pennsylvania