MystiquEvolution
08-08-2007, 08:57 PM
PGN - Philadelphia Gay News (August 3 - 9, 2007)
Maria Gonzalez, the city's first and only openly transgender police officer on the 6,500-member force, has retired effective June 23.
Gonzalez, 60, worked for the Philadelphia Police Department since October 1967.
She served as a senior firearms instructor at the Police Academy for much of her tenure. But in October 2004, she was transferred out of the unit after allegations that she improperly discharged her firearm.
She said her retirement benefits are ample and she will live comfortably.
Gonzalez came out in January 2004 and underwent gender-reassignment surgery in May 2005.
-Timothy Cwiek
Maria Gonzalez, the city's first and only openly transgender police officer on the 6,500-member force, has retired effective June 23.
Gonzalez, 60, worked for the Philadelphia Police Department since October 1967.
She served as a senior firearms instructor at the Police Academy for much of her tenure. But in October 2004, she was transferred out of the unit after allegations that she improperly discharged her firearm.
She said her retirement benefits are ample and she will live comfortably.
Gonzalez came out in January 2004 and underwent gender-reassignment surgery in May 2005.
-Timothy Cwiek