A conversation with Julie Callahan, TCOPS executive director
In this episode, CDCR Unlocked turns the mic over to Dr. Trisha Wallis, a senior psychologist specialist for CDCR/CCHCS. As a Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) ambassador, Wallis is committed to helping the department achieve its goals toward diversity, equity and inclusion.
She sat down with Julie Callahan, Executive Director of Transgender Community of Police & Sheriffs, or TCOPS.
What is TCOPS? This peer support network educates executives, organizations, and the law enforcement community about issues related to gender identity and the gender transition of a colleague. They are an international organization, providing resources and support to members of the law enforcement community in more than 30 countries.
In this insightful conversation, Wallis and Callahan discuss the challenges of transitioning in a law enforcement setting, and what colleagues and supervisors can do to support their employees.
Highlights of their discussion
“We are a safe place for transgender law enforcement officers and support personnel,” said Callahan. “Many of them come in knowing that they’re transgender (and) may or may not have transitioned. They may be exploring transition. They may have some gender issues and are questioning themselves about them. And we provide a safe place for them to talk. (We offer) some community with people who are within the profession and have similar kinds of concerns about officer safety.”
Callahan said one of the biggest challenges is overcoming preconceived notions.
“Like most transgender people, you lose basically the ability to have control over your own narrative. You know, the fact that you’re transitioning or that people have learned that you’re transgender becomes public knowledge at some point. People internalize that and make it about them and not about the person going through transition,” she said.
Learn more about TCOPS on their website.
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