Transwomen, power and the police: a week of shame
Feb 6th, 2008 by Rebecca
There have now been two incidents of serious police abuse relating to transpeople break in the media in as many days, and in two different states. In Sydney, two police officers are now on trial after deliberately outing a transwoman who had come to them for assistance after being the victim of domestic violence to said partner, resulting in him bashing her so badly she spent days in hospital. In Melbourne, the troubled St Kilda Police Station (which covers the city’s red light district) is edging ever closer to a full-scale Office of Police Integrity investigation after allegations came to light about the dealings of a senior officer with transgendered sex workers. Reading between the lines of the obnoxious tabloid reporting, it sounds to me like said officer was extorting sex from sex workers in exchange for not arresting them.
I’ve tended to think at times that we do things differently here, that we can generally trust the police when we need them. Incidents like this, however, show that that view is nothing short of misguided. How can any of us trust the police when reporting a crime is met with blatant harassment, as in Sydney, or when officers still have apparent carte blanche to harass sex workers in our community? The results of last year’s major TranzNation survey, too, suggest that that mistrust is pretty widespread within the trans community. Of that respondents to that survey, only 18% of those who had been the victim of a crime reported it to police, and an abhorrent 35% of those reported that they had not been treated with courtesy and dignity by the police in reporting said crime. It is heartening that Constables Tyrone Stacey and Brendan Ritson, the scumbag perpetrators of the Sydney crime, are now on trial, but they should have been kicked out of the force months ago. It seems that - like our North American sisters and brothers - we still have a heck of a long way to go. When we have a situation where people are too fucking terrified to report crime to the people who are supposed to protect them, perhaps it’s about time that each police force here started actually properly training their officers in respecting minority communities - and introducing real consequences for those that abuse the trust placed in them.
I want to finish on two further issues raised by these events. Firstly, in spite of the gains made here in educating the press on trans issues, the reporting of the St Kilda case was universally disgusting across all media outlets. The Herald Sun entitled their story “Cop in ‘tranny hooker sex’ relationship” and referred to the sex workers as tranvestites. Ninemsn’s story takes a similar line, and positively oozes contempt for transgendered sex workers. Even the usually respectable Age initially published a similar story on their website, but decided to write a decent article in a later revision. The reporting of the Sydney incident was no better, with the Daily Telegraph running the disgusting headlines “Accused joked about tranvestite (sic) lover he allegedly assaulted” and “Mate, your girlfriend was a bloke”. While the Australian media has, at least in recent years, generally cleaned up its act regarding transpeople, these incidents once again show that that fight ain’t over yet.
Finally, the revelations about police harassment in St Kilda once again point to the need for proper reform of laws surrounding sex work. Placing sex workers in the position of having to do that work illegally places them at so much greater risk of abuse. It was a point unsurprisingly missed by the bullshit reporting around the case, but really - they wouldn’t need to have to fuck corrupt cops to avoid arrest if it wasn’t illegal. So to the anti-sex work feminists and their allies in the religious right - welcome to your handiwork.
yuck, yuck, YUCK. i’m really too angry and horrified to say anything at the moment. i read about the sydney case earlier today, but i didn’t know about the melbourne crap as well.
I can’t believe that you honestly swallow everything the media throws at you as fact… I can’t speak for the Melbourne end but I know, that these constables from Sydney are good people. Why can’t you folks just think for a second?
Police= Not that stupid…
If I can change just one mind about these two constables I will be happy. I implore you guys to stop carrying on about these guys and look at the bigger picture. And If anything, trust in one lonesome stranger that knows that yes, it’s hard to be different but it’s even harder to have the ability to look beyond the bull the media throws at us and see the truth.
Pray tell, why on earth should they be considered “good people”? They behaved in a disgusting manner towards this woman, then violated their police privileges to gain access to her records, before illegally passing them on to a partner they knew to be violent, resulting in a serious assault on the victim. “Good people?” They’re lucky they’re not being charged as accessories to the crime, and they deserve solid jail time.
I’m not sure what “bigger picture” you see, but the one that I see is that half my community is too scared to go to the police when they’re victims of violent crime precisely because of scum like Tyrone Stacey and Brendan Ritson.
I’m not trying to make you upset, just trying to let you understand that I know these people are good. Truely. And I’m not naive to the fact that people are awful to your community. I’m just saying that these two in particular, really are not. I knew you wouldn’t believe me. I should have known better. I’m just standing up for people whom I know are being painted badly by the media when they don’t deserve it.
Much as I wouldn’t usually waste my time biting on the most obvious concern trolling ever, I’ll bite this time.
Why on earth don’t they deserve it, after committing such a disgusting act?
Don’t you get it, This whole thing has been so cooked up. Half of it is lies. we are talking about two level headed young men. men that, lets not forget, wouldn’t have passed the psychological exam if they were complete twats.
I can’t explain completely why I so viciously support them both. It wouldn’t be right, to divulge what I know and what I feel.
Can’t you believe for just a few moments that maybe these guys are not the new poster boys for anti-discrimination laws..? Maybe they really are victims, as is this poor woman whom was brutally bashed.
It’s already been mentioned that this woman was a fairly well known trans-gender, but that was also the first scrap of truth that was distinguished from the media. It’s not an excuse, there are no excuses here. This whole thing is stuck in a grey area. Everyone wants a piece of these guys and they never meant to do any harm at all.
Oooh boy.
The woman was not a, as you so politely term it, “well-known transgender”, in fact - she was not out at all until these lowlifes outed her. Moreover, even if it were true, how in the hell would that make it a “grey area”? After all, it’s not like she’s human or anything, right?
If they didn’t mean to do any harm, perhaps they should have thought about it before mocking a woman who came to them as a victim of domestic violence and then abusing their privileges to place said victim in real physical danger. Targeting members of minority groups does not give one a pass for abhorrent abuses of power, and hopefully Stacey and Ritson will be reflecting upon their actions from the inside of a jail cell. Perhaps you could be “concerned” about what they actually did.
As I said before, I’m not trying to upset you, So I would really appreciate it if you didn’t belittle me. I have an opinion, one that has not been swayed by the judgement of others, but one that has been formed by the truth and the facts that have been so carelessly pushed aside by people who couldn’t afford to lose a little money about a not so interesting story of two guys who a made a tiny mistake and probably now can’t believe the reprecussions that have occured. You don’t know them, you can’t say that they are bad people because you don’t know. That’s a fact. You can’t deny it. You can’t say all these things and know 100% that it’s the truth because you havn’t spoken to them, you weren’t there and by the sounds of it, in your eyes they are guilty already. All I’m asking is that you think for a moment… What if it’s not the way you’ve read or heard? What if your need to demonise somebody because of other peoples unwillingness to accept you has tainted you? Made you need to blame somebody?
I just wished everybody could be informed and know they truth. I wished that Stacey and Ritson had of had the chance to really defend themselves against this onslaught.
It wasn’t a “tiny mistake”. It was a massive lapse of judgement - and the sort of lapse of judgement for which people go to jail. The core facts of this are on the public record: they deliberately outed a transwoman to her abusive partner, and illegally accessed her records in doing so. You can weasel around that all you like, but there are no possible grounds in which that behaviour would be okay.
[…] by RhianWren on February 25, 2008 A two and a half weeks ago this post appeared at Burning Words about police corruption, and violence against […]
Concerned…please, everybody is primarily good and does not want to stuff up and sometimes some of us do and it is the law that reinforces what it is to do in the 1st place so we distinguish what is right and what is wrong.
Police are not paid and respected to break the law, they are trained to follow and uphold the law. These guys failed at their jobs and therefore a question mark is over their head for future consideration as is a police record for any other Australian citizen. The law is never above the law, they are the creators and nurturers of the law and nothing more.
As far as you claim that the media is hyping this up or misleading us in any way - you are not providing any proof and therefore barking a silent annoying noise…speak up or shut up…opinions are like arseholes - everyone has one but no-one wants it shoved in their faces and if so, it would want to be worth it.
Your comments have no substance. You know Hitler liked children, does that make him a good person. I have a different gauge for humanity and goodness.
These men abused their own code of ethics, hypocrits, and should be treated with the same contempt they had shown the public they were protecting and were paid to protect.
I am sorry Concerned but it is obvious to me what you are concerned about and it isn’t justice or humanity if you support the notion people of power are allowed to abuse that power even if it were a mistake. The mistake seemed to have many volutary actions to chain the events that unfolded.
I would much easily believe that the treatment this lady recieved was in nature fuled by ignorance and an old belief that transgender people have no rights. We live in a world of human rights and it is a different world to biggots rights. Our rights includes biggots where biggots only include themselves.
Well here is news…the world in not flat and we go around the sun, not the other way around and transgender people are humans.
Just updating you from what has happened in recent years.
I do know the people concerned and I know both sides of the story all too well. You are woring, she is and was a well known transgender and even said so in the court room I sat in. I listened to her testimony and she was proud and out. The police officers made a mistake in assuming her then partner knew of her sexuality, just and aside, her criminal history is not confidential its public record. This is a whitch hunt and the media has done a wonderful bleeding heart story but lets face it, it is 80% crap! Have you ever made a mistake in your work place after back to back 12-14 hour night shift? Do you scrape scum bag after scum bag off the street only to see them back committing the same crime again and again? you dont walk in their shoes so try and be a little less judgemental…
Leanne Stacey: (I refuse to let people hide behind a “concerned” pseudonym when they’re excusing hate. If you’re going to post this stuff, you can stand by your shit.)
Being “a well known transgender” does not give them the right to violate her privacy, or to treat her in the disgusting manner in which they did. The way they acted - especially considering she had just come to them complaining about domestic violence - was beyond appalling, and they deserve to be spending time behind bars for it.
I’m amazed at the ability of a few cissexual people in this case to race out and declare that committing crimes against transpeople is all justifiable and shit because hey, it’s not like we’re human or anything.
[…] I will draw the line at some things, as I’ve had to do with this post. I’ll even argue with the concern trolls, but I will not allow glaringly transphobic, […]
Rebecca ? -
1. Lets talk about hypocrisy. Were is my right to privacy? Who are you to put my full name up? You are a hypocrite big time. If I wanted my name on this page do I not the right to make that decision?
2. It would appear that you assume to know how we feel about people and feel it is your place to use words such as HATE. NOBODY involved from our side feels that emotion about any other living person and you offend me greatly but assuming you have the right to label me with such a strong term.
You can have this discussion on your own now as I won’t lower myself by participating any longer. How dare you take my privacy away Rebecca WHO?
It’s simple. I’m not a police officer, you’re not a domestic violence victim coming to me to complain about being bashed, and I’m not violating the duties of my job by abusing my position to gain access to someone’s personal file and leak the contents to said abuser.
It’s interesting how you’re quite happy to argue that a transwoman has no right to privacy from the police, of all people, from behind the cloak of anonymity, but when you’re made to actually own your shit, you cry foul. And yes, you’re excusing hate: you came along to argue that some nice boys shouldn’t be punished for violating the confidentiality of a woman by leaking personal information to her abuser because the victim was trans and thus not human. And if you want to come here and post that crap, feel free - but don’t expect me to do you any favours.
Oh, of course. How did I miss that? Leanne Stacey = Tyrone Stacey. I’d be utterly ashamed if any member of my family was responsible for anything like this, and they’d wind up well and truly disowned if they did. It’s a bit of a sad reflection on your family if this sort of disgusting, lowlife behaviour is not only tolerated, but defended.
To the anonymous editor who keeps attempting to post: As per my moderation policy, transphobic, misogynist, racist or abilist crap is not welcome on this blog. Your posts cross that line, will not be approved, will never appear on the public side of this blog, and if I can be bothered, will merely be redirected to my spam filter. Yawn.
I know one of the constables personally, we’re good friends and I’ve lived in the Eastern Suburbs area for a long time. I also have many gay, lesbian and transgendered friends who have been angered by the Surry Hills incident, but not because a transgendered person was involved because we’re all different, in some way. But because of the circus the media has turned it into, which is further driving a wedge into what is sometimes a sensitive area of our society.
All this aside though, my good friend Tyrone who I know well, that you dont know at all, may well have his career ruined by an innocent mistake. A mistake the media have used to fuel anger in people like yourself. People like yourself, that Tyrone goes to work for everyday in making your society a better place.
Rebecca, your views have come across very narrow minded and hypocritical. Its not entirely your fault because your only source of information has been the media but, partly your fault because you already seem like a very angry person and that doesnt help anyone.
It is a shame that you dont know Tyrone. You might understand his pain and he would no doubt understand yours because thats the type of person he is.
The media reported the facts of this case, and they’re pretty clear. Did or did not Tyrone Stacey and Brendan Ritson unlawfully access the records of a woman who had come to them with a domestic violence complaint and then out her to her abuser in perhaps the most provocative manner possible?
I don’t give a damn if he happens to be a good mate, and I don’t give a damn if he has a gay friend who he can try and allay his conscience with. In what universe was what he did “innocent”? He didn’t view her as human, so he treated her with the utmost disrespect, and grossly violated his duty as a police officer. If he wanted to go to work “for people like myself” in making society a better place, he wouldn’t have helped place my community in fear? No “nice guy” would do what he did.
“He may well lose his career?” I’ll shed the world’s smallest tear. He should be in jail.
[’The media reported the facts of this case, and they’re pretty clear’] You poor thing! Do you believe everything the media reports or just this particular article?
The media reported enough fact to make it newsworthy but your version of those facts is just diatribe.
These arent the medias facts!!
1. [’out her to her abuser in perhaps the most provocative manner possible?’]
2. [’He didn’t view her as human, so he treated her with the utmost disrespect, and grossly violated his duty as a police officer.’]
The rest is just your angry opinion or plan imagined.
1. [’he has a gay friend who he can try and allay his conscience with’] - you clearly just imagined this.
2. [’In what universe was what he did “innocent”?’] - nobody said he was innocent, you’ve imagined this also.
3. [’If he wanted to go to work “for people like myself” in making society a better place, he wouldn’t have helped place my community in fear?’] “Your community”, give me a break. Its ‘our’ community thank you very much and this is where the problem lies.
Its individuals like yourself that are the problem in what you refer to as your own community. Tyrone may have made a grave error this one time only but, your the continual problem with these prejudices.
[No “nice guy” would do what he did.] - fair call but, nice guys can make mistakes. You’ve made plenty on this blog today. I replied to your comments innitially because you were way offline and I thought I could save you from yourself but, I’m obviously too late.
One last question Rebecca. What makes you happy?
The words used by Stacey and Ritson were directly quoted at their trial, and reported in the press. I’m sorry, but if you’re trying to argue that saying “mate, did you know your girlfriend is a bloke?” to a violent criminal wasn’t really fucking provocative, I’m inclined to view you as being just a tad disingenous. It’s not hard to take from that that they didn’t view her as human - for gods sake, in this very thread you’ve got his own family coming dropping by to say “but she was just a transgender”.
Stacey and Ritson sent a glaring message to the trans community in Sydney that one couldn’t even go to the police with a complaint of violence without risking the police actively making things worse for you out of sheer transphobia. If he made a grave error, then perhaps Stacey come out and say that, apologise to his victim, and apologise to the trans community, rather than sending his family and friends around the blogosphere trying to justify his actions with the sort of appalling excuses seen above. Until that point, I’m inclined to believe he should be jailed.
You’re making it all up again Rebecca and making crazy assumptions. I did try to be nice to you because I am a nice person. You are clearly an overly aggresive person who will probably end up behind bars one day anyway.
BTW. Tyrone Stacey has never uttered a single word to Bridget Fell.
One day when people like yourself (not other transgendered people), keep it shut, it might give us all a chance to live in a little harmony and accept the mistakes of others, learn from them and MOVE ON quietly.
Until then, your type (not transgendered people) will continually use these blogs to generate hate and fear among others in attempt to justify your own existence.
You need not bother answering my question now. I doubt there is much that can make you happy.
I’m making it all up? Making crazy assumptions? I suppose you’d care to tell me specifically what those might be, then.
Right. It’d all be fine, and all be okay, if people like me would just be good little girls and shut up when we’re told to do so. I’m merely calling people’s attention to one particularly disgusting case - and then taking the time to respond to the (also pretty disgusting) responses of the accused’s family and friends showing up to defend him.
I’ll accept the mistakes of people like Stacey when they actually take responsibility for them. If he’s so apologetic for his actions, why is he contesting the charges, and putting Fell through the trauma of a trial? Why hasn’t he publicly apologised for his behaviour? Why is he sending his family and friends into the blogosphere to (badly) make excuses for his conduct? And, if as you say, Stacey didn’t say anything, why isn’t he testifying against Ritson? When these people continue to behave like right scum, don’t be surprised when they get calls from the public to be put where they belong.
I’m perfectly happy, thank you. This does not mean that I won’t get outraged at vile conduct, from the police of all people.
Wow, a concern troll who -actually uses the moniker “Concerned”-.
…wow, this whole thread is like, boilerplate something or other. fertile ground for a BINGO card.
*laughs*
Yeah, it’s about the most obvious concern trolling ever, but I couldn’t help but respond to it.
Concern troll bingo? I might have to do that some day…
Rebecca - would you mind passing on Also Concerned contact details to me? I am a lawyer and she has a strong case against you for breach of privacy which as you clearly know is a highly illegal act with criminal implications. Better still she would be well advised to pass this entire blog on to the Daily Telegraph to see how you all hold up in the public arena.
This is probably another one of my posts you won’t place for viewing.
I normally wouldn’t let that sort of thing through, as it has nothing to do with the actual post. However, I couldn’t resist this time.
Samuel: Honey, I’m a law student. That’s the most unconvicing attempt at a legal threat I’ve ever seen. If you’re a lawyer, then I’m a supermodel.
I think I might have to go ahead and create this Concern Troll Bingo…this thread is too good an example to resist.
[…] been wondering for a while why this post on two dodgy cops who outed a transwoman to her violent partner was so popular among people getting […]
Well, your two posts on this are second and third entries on google for Tyrone Stacey. Serve’s the scumbag right.
wow. *boggles*
uh, i just wanted to say that i’m reading this and supporting you, rebecca. not that you probably needed to hear that, but maybe concerned&friends might like to know that their idiocy is being duly noted across the country.
Hmmmmmmm, very interesting. I was actually wondering when Tyrone was going to come ‘undone’. In my opinion, it was only a matter of time. Seems as though he hasn’t changed one single bit after all these years, still a cocky smart ass with a big mouth which I knew would get him into trouble in the real world. When I heard that he was a police officer now days, my blood curdled, what a joke! One of the most angry, immoral, disloyal and untrustworthy people I have EVER known and he has the power to ‘influence society’ and is supposedly a ‘good role model’ I think NOT!!!. Makes sense that Mum is pissed off too, she’s well aware of the mistakes she made as a parent and certainly wasn’t the best role model herself…. Anyway, to the people who keep defending Tyrone as a ‘good bloke’ I would strongly disagree with you based on the personal experience I had with him for a number of years. What Tyrone did to that woman was disgusting and he deserves everything he gets. Good on you Rebecca, I support you whole heartedly.
Okay, on that note, I think this thread has run its course.
Closing comments.