Officer Allegedly Involved In Argument
October 18, 2004
PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia's first transgender police officer is in a lot of trouble after she is accused of shooting near another officer during firearm's training.
Police officials will only say that officer Maria Gonzalez has been reassigned to desk duty because of an incident that internal affairs is investigating that allegedly happened Friday night at a firing range.
Gonzalez, 57, is scheduled for a sex change operation next summer. She takes hormones and other medication.
Back then, Gonzalez told NBC 10 in January that she notified her police department about her life change and her officers were supportive.
"All I ask is that they tolerate me and accept me," she said then.
Gonzalez is accused of mishandling firearms and putting other officers in danger.
According to sources, Gonzalez was training other officers at the police academy firing range Friday night when she got into an argument with Officer Marie Schmidt, a 17-year veteran of the force.
Gonzalez allegedly took Schmidt's gun out of her hand and fired a round at the ground, then fired another down range.
Noting the dangers of firing into the ground, police reassigned Gonzalez and she was checked into a hospital for evaluation.
NBC 10 spoke with Schmidt briefly. She was upset and would not talk about the incident.
www.nbc10.com/news/3830337/detail.html