A veteran Georgia police officer lost his job after responding to a concerned mother’s request at a public library. The incident, unfolding in the Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library, centered around a dispute over bathroom access and ignited a firestorm of controversy.
The initial complaint came from a woman with two young children, who expressed discomfort with a man using the women’s restroom. That man was Sarah Rose Swinton, a transgender woman, who alleges the officer immediately challenged her right to be there, stating her presence was inappropriate for a women’s space.
Former Officer Glen Weaver, a 28-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department, confirmed he addressed Swinton, believing his presence caused distress to other patrons. He maintains his actions were rooted in protecting the safety and comfort of women and children within the library.
Internal affairs records reveal a security guard witnessed a woman leaving the restroom visibly shaken after Swinton entered. Shortly after, the mother with her children exited, clearly upset and questioning the library’s policy on bathroom access. Her quiet frustration spoke volumes.
Despite departmental policy outlining a reprimand for a first offense, Weaver was ultimately terminated. The decision, he believes, stemmed from a “woke” environment and a desire to avoid further scrutiny. He felt pressured to simply disappear from the situation.
Weaver expressed regret over losing his position, but firmly stood by his initial response. He powerfully articulated a father’s perspective, imagining the concern of waiting for a daughter and encountering an individual in a traditionally female space.
He vehemently denied accusations of being anti-transgender, stating he was unfairly attacked in the media. Weaver felt the narrative was twisted, and he resented being labeled with false accusations on a national stage.
Swinton, however, claims she was never informed of the mother’s complaint throughout the entire investigation. She asserts the core issue is being misgendered and viewed as male, despite her identity as a woman.
The library itself operates under a policy allowing individuals to use the restroom aligning with their gender identity, a practice protected under Georgia law, which doesn’t extend the same restrictions to public libraries as it does to schools.
The case has drawn strong reactions, with some arguing Weaver acted appropriately in addressing a legitimate concern for safety and upholding societal norms. Others maintain his actions were discriminatory and harmful to the transgender community.
Weaver, now 70 years old, feels betrayed by a system he dedicated decades to serving. He believes his commitment to duty was sacrificed to appease a prevailing ideology, leaving him to grapple with the consequences of a single, controversial encounter.
