Coming Out from Behind the Badge: The People, Events, And History That Shape Our Journey

by Greg Miraglia

Overview

Coming out from behind the Badge is a book intended to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) law enforcement professionals who are seeking a way to "come out" and be successful on the job. It is also intended to educate heterosexuals (persons attracted to the opposite sex) and cisgender people (persons who identify their gender in a way that is consistent with their birth sex) to better understand differences in sexual orientation and gender identity and how to support their colleagues. In addition, this edition of Coming out from behind the Badge was written to support students who are preparing for a career in law enforcement and those already in the field seeking a better understanding of a large segment of the community which law enforcement serves. The book contains stories from real LGBT law enforcement professionals who are "out" on the job serving communities across the country. In addition to the stories, the book contains new chapters explaining sexual orientation and gender identity, LGBT history related to law enforcement, and expanded sections on how to come out and how to create an inclusive and supportive workplace. This book is ideal for LGBT law enforcement professionals, straight allies, law enforcement executives, and those who are seeking a law enforcement career. It makes an ideal textbook for police academies and classes in community policing, public administration, and LGBT studies. An instructor guide is available with course outlines, learning activities, and critical thinking questions. This book is perfect for you if you are… - Working in law enforcement and thinking about coming out. - An out gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person in law enforcement. - A friend or colleague who wants to learn how to be supportive. - A criminal justice student preparing for a law enforcement career. - An agency executive wanting a rank and file that reflects the community. - A law enforcement psychologist who wants to understand better. - A young gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person seeking a law enforcement career. Stories in this book come from: Greg Lempke An Officer From The East Coast An Officer From Alabama Jon Henderson David Lewis Jr. Danielle Jonas John Sanders Anthony Morgado Patricia Fitzpatrick Scott Gunn Gregory Abbink Jeri Mitchell Kevin Collins Darran Mazaika

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781483568812
Publisher:	BookBaby
Publication date:	06/01/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	300
File size:	484 KB

About the Author

Greg Miraglia is the dean of criminal justice training at Napa Valley College. Since 1986, he has been teaching a variety of law enforcement courses including cultural diversity, human relations, work place harassment and discrimination prevention, community policing, and one of the only state certified hate crimes investigations courses in the State of California. In 2011, he authored curriculum for an accredited LGBT Studies Program now offered by Napa Valley College. This was the second program of its type offered by a California college. In July of 2013, Mr. Miraglia was awarded the "Dr. John W. Rice Diversity Award" by the Chancellor of the California Community College system for his work developing hate crime prevention and diversity education programs. He is a nationally recognized speaker and expert on LGBT issues in the law enforcement profession. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Matthew Shepard Foundation and is the National Program Coordinator for the Stop the Hate! Program. He speaks about hate crime prevention throughout the country. He is also a radio program host and producer on Outbeat Radio, a weekly LGBT program on KRCB Radio in northern California. Mr. Miraglia has over 35 years of experience in law enforcement with three different police departments working most recently as deputy chief of the Napa Valley Railroad Police Department. After coming out himself in 2004, Mr. Miraglia decided to work with others in law enforcement still struggling with the pervasive homophobia that still exists in many areas of the law enforcement, the fire service, and EMS profession. Mr. Miraglia has a Masters Degree in Education, a Bachalor's Degree in Business, and is a graduate of the California P.O.S.T. Master Instructor Development Program.

Table of Contents

Foreword 1

Dedication 5

Introduction 6

Section I 11

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity 13

LGBT History in Relation to Law Enforcement 23

Homophobia in Law Enforcement 46

Section II 51

Celebrating Pride: The people, events and history that shaped my journey, by Greg Miraglia 53

From Lt. Greg Lemke, Fargo Police Department 94

From an Officer on the East Coast 107

Sweet Home Alabama 116

From Officer Jon Henderson, Muncie, Indiana 129

From Auxiliary Police Officer Dave Lewis Jr. NYPD CPP 153

An Interview with Danielle Jonas 159

From Officer John Sanders 164

A Letter to LGBT Youth from Deputy Anthony Morgado 188

An Interview with Officer Patricia Fitzpatrick 190

From Officer Scott Gunn 195

An Interview with Officer Gregory Abbink 210

From Sergeant Jeri Mitchell 215

A Letter from Officer Kevin Collins 220

From Darran Mazaika 230

Section III 241

How to "Come Out" 243

Becoming a Role Model 259

Being Out and Getting In 261

How to Find That Someone Special 264

Ideas for Attracting LGBT Applicants 267

Creating an Accepting Workplace 270

Some Thoughts about Diversity Training 277

Section IV 285

Recommended Books 287

Gay and Lesbian Organizations 291