My name is Anthony Kasper, I am a Deputy Sheriff for the Solano County Sheriff’s Office. I have been a Deputy Sheriff since 2012. I have worked on a variety of assignments throughout my career, some including patrol, courts and civil. I am an instructor for my agency in a variety of topics including firearms, use of force, active shooter response, breaching and tactical entries. I am the first out openly gay Deputy Sheriff in my department. I have had nothing but exceptional supportive co-workers and a supportive agency when it comes to allowing me to be my true self. My coming out journey was not the worst, nor the best. Coming out in my early 20’s helped teach me a lot of life lessons and learn many priorities in life.
I am now truly grateful for the journey that I have been on and continue. After coming out, it’s been a goal of mine to help those I can in this amazing career. Unfortunately for many parts of this country still today, law enforcement has a stigma when it comes to working with the LGBTQ community and having LGBTQ officers in their rank and file. I know there are many others like me out there, whose dream has always been to be a peace officer and help serve the community they grew up in. I believe no LGBTQ person should ever not only have to fear law enforcement, but fear not fulfilling their dream of becoming a peace officer because of their sexual orientation. Our country needs great officers now, more than ever; and simply denying someone a career in law enforcement simply based on their sexual orientation is not only a disgrace to the law enforcement, but a disgrace to the communities we serve every day.
I am now truly grateful for the journey that I have been on and continue. After coming out, it’s been a goal of mine to help those I can in this amazing career. Unfortunately for many parts of this country still today, law enforcement has a stigma when it comes to working with the LGBTQ community and having LGBTQ officers in their rank and file. I know there are many others like me out there, whose dream has always been to be a peace officer and help serve the community they grew up in. I believe no LGBTQ person should ever not only have to fear law enforcement, but fear not fulfilling their dream of becoming a peace officer because of their sexual orientation. Our country needs great officers now, more than ever; and simply denying someone a career in law enforcement simply based on their sexual orientation is not only a disgrace to the law enforcement, but a disgrace to the communities we serve every day.
