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Cop Demoted After Sex Reassignment
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

(August 31, McMinnville, Ore.) A sergeant with a local county sheriff's office has been demoted after undergoing sex-change surgery.

Sgt. Debra Walker, 53, has worked for the country for18 years.  She ha been demoted to the entry-level position of deputy sheriff.

Officially the sheriff's office said it was for disciplinary reasons but a spokesperson would not elaborate and Walker has refused comment.

The demotion will cost Walker more than $9,000 a year.

As a patrol deputy, Walker will have to serve a probationary period, during which she could be fired at any time.

Several months ago she told a local paper that going through the gender change might have been easier in a larger city.

One thing that kept her in the small community she said was her sergeant status. If she were to move to another law-enforcement agency, she'd have to begin at entry level and work her way up again.

Walker had been relegated to desk duty after announcing she would undergo the gender reassignment.

In earlier comments on the issue a spokesperson for the county said Walker's sex change had resulted in some tension in the department. But he denied that it lead the department to treat her any differently.

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