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| NATIONWIDE STUDY FOR TRANSSEXUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS |
| Wanted ! Transsexual law enforcement officers for nation-wide study of transition and employment issues |
| Dr. Thomas S. Whetstone, formerly a faculty member at the Southern Police Institute, Department of Justice Administration at the University of Louisville (KY) is presently seeking transgendered members of the law enforcement community to participate in a continuing study he is conducting regarding issues of transition, acceptance and inclusion in law enforcement agencies. In numerous discussions with police administrators from across the country he has discovered a great deal of misinformation and resistance to allowing transgendered officers to either join the service or remain so employed, regardless of previous performance. |
| The research program is designed to accomplish two specific goals: 1. Document and give voice to the experience of TS officers in obtaining, retaining employment. Discuss and analyze transition and confidentiality issues, and treatment by the department and peers. 2. Develop a set of protocols for TS officers to follow when approaching the department concerning transition, and for departments to follow when approached by a TS officer in anticipation of transition. The object is to develop a body of research that will focus on fair, humane, and dignified treatment of the TS officer and highlight issues regarding mainstreaming on the job. Participant requirements: - The participant must be currently or formerly full-time employed sworn law enforcement officers - people with arrest powers and who are authorized to carry firearms (Peace Officers, Police, Deputies, Special Agents). - All public agency affiliations are acceptable, i.e. municipal, county, state, or federal service will qualify, - Participants must have strong Transsexual profiles to qualify and may be FTM or MTF. - For full consideration the participant must have, in relation to their job, taken visible, documented steps toward transition, RLT, or GRS. In other words, being out in anyway with the department administration. - The participant must be willing to speak with the researcher (candidly but confidentially) about their experience in relation to police service and how their Transsexualism interacts with the job. Experiences, both good and bad, are sought. We are very sensitive to the security needs of transgendered officers and have designed the study to meet those needs. Personal identifiers and descriptions of individual departments will be structured so that no person will be able to connect any person with any department. We assure you that all persons contacted in this study will be treated in a fair, compassionate, dignified, and above all else, confidential manner. If you feel you qualify and would like to participate in this study, please direct your contact information to the address listed below. If you know of anybody that meets the above participant qualifications, please forward a copy of this message to them. If you have any questions or concerns about this study please do not hesitate to contact us. This study in ongoing by Dr. Whetstone. Thomas S. Whetstone, Ph.D. docwhetstone@aol.com |
| "I never realized until lately that women were supposed to be the inferior sex." - Katherine Hepburn |
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