Milestones

My road in life took a while to figure out.
First, I was hired as a police cadet with the Walnut Creek Police Department in 1978.
I was hired as a police academy instructor after 5 years of working on the police force.
I was appointed academy director of Napa Police Academy in 1999.
I met Judy Shepard in June 2001 and got involved with the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
I came out of the closet as a gay man in 2004.
I wrote my first book of gay police officer coming out stories in 2007.
I got married to the love of my life, also a teacher, in 2006.
In 2012, I created an accredited LGBT studies program that I now teach at my college.
Keep following my journey

Career

Dean of Occupational Services

I teach LGBT studies and law enforcement at Napa Valley Junior College.

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Law
Teaching / Mentoring

Day to Day

I oversee career education programs at Napa Valley College. I teach cultural diversity and human relations classes for the police academy and teach and coordinate our LGBT Studies Program.

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for high school students

Law enforcement requires applicants to have a clean driving record, no criminal record, and to be able to demonstrate good decision making. A college education is important. A two-year degree is a good start, but a Masters Degree should be the goal.

Recommended Education

My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Society in General:

"Being gay is a sin and is bad. You could not have career in law enforcement if you were gay. In 1978, I heard politicians say you couldn't be a public school teacher if you were gay. The message was consistent that being gay was unacceptable."

Challenges I Overcame

LGBT