What do you want a police officer to know?

[suzifrommd]

We've been talking to the local police department about having the opportunity to talk to police recruits about transgender people. If it goes through, I'd probably get 5-10 minutes to speak to them.

What would you want them to know about us?

[Sammy]

Nice opportunity and sincere thanks for doing this for community!

Just quick ideas (from my professional background):
- issues arising during the placement of detainees (e.g. should transgender individuals be placed in solitary confinement (which is another issue, per se) or with detaines of their legal sex? This might be dangerous in cases of pre-op FtM individuals (legally males), when placed with male detainees.
- gender issues during searches/patdowns
- use of pronouns
- that they should not be surprised if they pull someone off to check the ID and there is a mismatch due to presentation/photo. That does not automatically mean a forged ID - this could also mean that the person is changing face/body-wise and should be given opportunity to present explanation (or letters from therapists, GP, whatever).
- that is someone is transgender, that does not automatically entail that the individual is sex worker. Would be nice to give them some examples from real life, like Kristen Beck, Zoe Tur and other transgender people from all facets of life and could make as a closing statement for Your speech, perhaps.
Hope something of that might help.
And thank You again .

[Muffinheart]

We've been talking to the local police department about having the opportunity to talk to police recruits about transgender people. If it goes through, I'd probably get 5-10 minutes to speak to them.

What would you want them to know about us?

You should contact Amnda Ryan at Gender Mosaic. She is the liaison between the Ciy of Ottawa police and the Trans community. All police forces in Ontario must undergo transgender sensitivity course.
I don't know Amanda, but she is always quoted in the newspaper.
Also helps, a postop Christine Schultz is a member of the tactical squad.

[mfox]

What would you want them to know about us?

I think it's important for them to know that trans persons may require their HRT medication.

Police are sometimes the first to respond to an accident, so they should know a trans person may be on medication that affects their blood pressure,   mood and to look for the signs of a blood clot or pulmonary embolism (one of the risks for HRT).

[Eveline]

There is so much to communicate!

If you can engage their emotions and help them connect to trans people as human beings, they will want to learn more on their own.

What about leading with a short, emotional transition video to soften the mood? Not sure if this is an option given the need for a projector, etc.

[Sammy]

What about leading with a short, emotional transition video to soften the mood? Not sure if this is an option given the need for a projector, etc.

That's cool idea, but 5-10 mins for presentation tend to fly away in a blink of an eye . It is actually ~ 1 -1.5 pages of typed text.

[Eveline]

Emily, you're right, the video would chew up a lot of a 5-10 minute preso.

Too bad there isn't a one-minute emotional grabber Suzi can use - most I've seen are 5 minutes or more...

[Jerri]

for me I would them to know that we are people to, we have emotions and issues that may be a bit different but we are whom we are.

[MugwortPsychonaut]

Black lives matter.

[suzifrommd]

Black lives matter.

Oh, sorry. Should have made it clear: I'm there as a representative of the trans community. There would be people there from the black community as well, but my responsibility would be to educate them about transgender people.

[Jayne]

Some Transpeople can get easily over emotional due to HRT or being hammered down by society, if a transperson becomes upset or resentful it doesn't mean we're being obstructive it often just means that we've been either pushed too far or are adjusting to hormonal changes, sometimes we just need a few minutes to compose ourselves or sometimes speaking to a different officer/gender can be a huge help
If the police work with us then we'll be happy to work with them

[MugwortPsychonaut]

Some Transpeople can get easily over emotional due to HRT or being hammered down by society, if a transperson becomes upset or resentful it doesn't mean we're being obstructive it often just means that we've been either pushed too far or are adjusting to hormonal changes, sometimes we just need a few minutes to compose ourselves or sometimes speaking to a different officer/gender can be a huge help
If the police work with us then we'll be happy to work with them

This is awesome, and it's so damn true.

And I'd like to add that it would be nice if the police could recognize that just because a black trans woman is carrying condoms, it doesn't make her a sex worker.

[Jill F]

I didn't do it.

(Kidding... I really did do it.  )

In all seriousness, transgender people are just regular people trying to get by in a society where we are regularly marginalized. victimized and outcast.  Not all of us are sex workers, drug addicts and just out there to fool people.  When we are using a public restroom, rest assured we are doing just that and nothing more.  We are also defined by what is between our ears, not our legs nor what our legal documents do or do not say.   Getting a legal name change, gender marker change and surgeries are privileges, not requirements, as is what you receive in the genetic lottery. 

Also, realizing that transfolk are extremely vulnerable and much more likely to be the victims of crimes than the perpetrators thereof might be nice as well.

*jumps off soapbox* 

[ImagineKate]

I think it's important for them to know that trans persons may require their HRT medication.

Police are sometimes the first to respond to an accident, so they should know a trans person may be on medication that affects their blood pressure,   mood and to look for the signs of a blood clot or pulmonary embolism (one of the risks for HRT).

This is important which is why I list it in my medical ID on my phone. It is as important as my other medications. One should always have a medical ID on their person or somewhere easily accessible so if ever you are in an accident or similar, emergency responders can take care of you. Usually insulin dependent diabetics have them but anyone taking medications or with chronic conditions should have them.

[suzifrommd]

Thanks for all your feedback.

It turns out, we will have access to a projector. I created a PowerPoint to show them. I tried to incorporate all the comments I got here. I posted the slides to this thread. It's behind the Subscriber's Only paywall, so if you're not a subscriber but still want to see the slides, PM me and I'll email them to you.

[mac1]

Black lives matter.

EVERYBODY'S LIFE MATTERS - That includes the police officer.

[ImagineKate]

Thanks for all your feedback.

It turns out, we will have access to a projector. I created a PowerPoint to show them. I tried to incorporate all the comments I got here. I posted the slides to this thread. It's behind the Subscriber's Only paywall, so if you're not a subscriber but still want to see the slides, PM me and I'll email them to you.

I wanted to subscribe anyway and this was an extra incentive.

Suzi, I think you did a most excellent job and I really cannot add anything to this.

Well, actually I would briefly mention non-binary persons, at least that they exist. Also facilities should include more than just restrooms. They include spaces such as change rooms. Also, questions about surgery may be necessary for emergency medical treatment but usually EMS will be doing that, however police and fire are trained in first aid and often do it too. I would also mention diversity and that we are a big tent. Trans women of color, younger and older trans people too, rich, poor, Christian, Jew, Muslim, etc.

Thank you for doing this for us. As a former member of law enforcement I am glad that there is outreach to the LE community as well.

[Rachel]

Perhaps explaining many trans have extreme anxiety when in the presence of the Police. Let alone detained for an issue. Authority figures may have mistreated them in the past and that trauma can be triggered when detained.

Trans are at risk from being detained in opposite gender holding.

Being searched is intrusive, when a trans is searched it can be triggering.

Courtesy transport has resulted is beatings and worse from police officers.

Some trans are really hungry and have limited access to bathing facilities and clean cloths. If possible reach out and help our community.

[Amy The Bookworm]

I got one thing I'd like them to know. We're afraid of them. At least, I am, especially of male police officers.

If I get pulled over and our ID doesn't match (in my case my presentation doesn't match, and even when I get a new license after my name change, it will still say M for gender...) we've got to worry we're going to get in trouble over that as well as anything they don't know or any preconceived notions they have.

I keep reading stories of trans people getting arrested for being accused of prostitution even when we're not doing it.

There's stories of police sexually abusing trans people (obviously not the majority, but enough to where it's a concern).

If we get arrested (for a crime or for suspicion of prostitution ... because we're transgender...) we have to worry we're going to get thrown in the wrong section of the jail.

It gets worse if you're a minority ethnicity in the U.S., I'm sure.

...They're hard to trust, and they definitely make me nervous even though I'm 34 and never even been stopped by them, just because of the nightmarish thought of what they might do.

All of the above also causes us to not report crimes committed against us because not only of the above, but we also don't feel they'll investigate them as fully as they will other crimes committed toward cisgender people. And that's a big problem, because it leaves us open to abuse (trans women worry we'll be told to 'be a man' or otherwise not taken seriously, or that we 'wanted it' in cases of rape for example ... this is why I didn't call the police a year ago when my wife came running at me with a pair of scissors threatening to stab me. I didn't realize that was even an option until someone pointed that out to me a week later and I don't think I still would have done it had I realized it sooner because I worried the police wouldn't take me seriously).

...

So yes. I'm afraid of cops.

I don't know. Maybe I'm over-reacting.

*EDIT* Just noticed how old this is. Sorry I missed it the first time around. How did your presentation go, Suzi?

[ImagineKate]

Read the PowerPoint, Suzi covers this beautifully