A few weeks ago there was a media circus that surrounded an HPD sergeant's personal life. It became a white-hot issue for the local news media after developments regarding his desire to explain his transgender process to his supervisors and subordinates at his workplace became public.

The day the media broke the story, I received several calls from media representatives looking to find information about this particular story. Having just recently returned from out of town and I was caught cold as it was related to any details. Since it was explained to me during the media contacts that the focus of their story involved a sergeant assigned to Fondren Patrol, I contacted the division commander to let him know that local media representatives were calling me wanting information that I didn't have regarding one of his subordinates.

The captain advised me that he too was aware that the media was after a story regarding one his subordinates and that he was advised that representatives from a local television station were outside of the subordinates home waiting for him to step out so they could capture and exclusive "in your face interview." The captain informed me that the sergeant had stated to him that he had not called the media and wasn't sure how to proceed.

At the conclusion of my telephone discussion with the captain, I asked him to have the supervisor contact me if he needed union assistance. A short time later I was contacted by Sgt. Oliver and he sounded like he was at a loss with respect to how he could get the media away from his home yet also deal with the matter. In that instant, I advised him that if he truly wanted to tell his story to the media, he should consider doing it with the media as a group and get that part of the issue over and done with. Sgt. Oliver told me that is what he would do, but did not want to do it at his residence. I told Sgt. Oliver that he could use an office at the Union to say his piece, so that it could all be taken care of oat one time rather than in a piece-meal basis. Obviously, as most everyone knows by now, Sgt. Oliver made the choice to hold a press conference at our Union offices.

In the instant I told Sgt. Oliver he could use the office to conduct his press conference, I didn't think that the issue would be mistakenly developed into a portrayal of any kind of Union support. Obviously, after later watching the media interviews and reading the Chronicle coverage, the sergeant's personal decisions got hitched to the Union.

During the interview at the Union office, the media asked me if the department would support Sgt. Oliver. I stated I felt the department (HPD) would support Oliver and ensure that he was treated fairly and that he would be afforded every right under the Constitution, state law, HPD policy, as well as the rights afforded to him under Title VII against race, sex, and religious discrimination.

The other question I was asked was in regard to HPD officers' reaction to Sgt. Oliver's situation and plans. My answer was that although there may likely be officers uncomfortable and upset over the sergeant’s situation and decision, I would bet that most would act in a professional manner and follow instructions and orders as long as those orders and instructions were legal.

The main question beyond allowing the sergeant to hold his press conference at our building centered on -- why was I sitting there next to him and didn't that offer at the very least tacit perception of our organization's support? I can only say what I explained earlier is that I was merely there to explain to the media why we were having the interview at the HPOU building and that I was not taking a position in support of or against Sgt. Oliver’s plans concerning his personal life.

Again for the record, let me make it clear that in my capacity as Union president and spokesperson, the organization neither supports nor opposes Sgt. Oliver's issues related to his personal life choices and decisions. In fact, I never remotely stated or inferred a position to the media prior to, during, or after Sgt. Oliver's press conference. That said, in retrospect, I regret that the perception has been created that I as individual or as president of the Union was taking a position on this issue. My effort was to merely provide a venue for the sergeant, who is obviously going through some deep personal issues and challenges, and to pacify the media's desire to tell his story.

This particular issue is new territory for nearly all of us. Sgt' Oliver’s decision is a personal one that unfortunately has a public component to it. In my haste to accommodate a member who is obviously dealing with issues most of us will never understand, I made the call to let him use our office for the press conference. Obviously, after seeing how the perception has developed since the press conference, I certainly would have preferred that the end result and reporting from the media barrage would have been more accurate. Unfortunately I can't get the genie back in the bottle.

I am mindful that as the elected bargaining agent we are an organization that represents a community of interests and views for all police officers. I am also aware that I need to always bear in mind that my presence, especially with the media is as the voice of all HPD officers. I don't take that position lightly. I hope that my decision to allow Sgt Oliver to discuss his personal matters that have nothing to do with Union goals or membership issues can be put behind us, and we can press forward providing the first class Union member benefits and services all of you have come to expect.

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