Gay Cops is a groundbreaking study of gay and lesbian police officers in America. In 1976 San Francisco Sheriff's Deputy Rudi Cox became the first openly gay law enforcement officer in the United States. Five years later Sgt. Charlie Cochrane of the New York City Police Department came out at a city council meeting. With the assistance of Sergeant Cochrane and members of the Gay Officers Action League, retired NYPD Lieutenant Leinen probes the dilemmas facing homosexual officers striving to balance the realities of police work and their sexual identities. Workplace issues concerning recruitment, harassment, coming out on the job, and off-duty social life are exposed through interviews. As one officer states, "To be a cop is very hard. To be homosexual and a cop, it's harder." A highly commendable choice not only for institutions supporting police science programs but also for academic and larger public libraries.
- Michael A. Lutes, Univ. of Notre Dame Lib., Ind.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.