The DeKalb County Police Department fired veteran officer Glen Weaver after he asked a trans-identifying library patron to use a different restroom during early voting at the Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library in Tucker, Georgia, according to internal records.
The incident, which drew national attention, occurred on October 20, 2025.
Records show Weaver acted after a mother with two children complained that a male had entered the women’s restroom.
Security officer Victor Reed told investigators that several women and children were already inside when the patron, Sasha Rose Swinson—who identifies as female—entered.
Reed said the parent appeared visibly upset, prompting Weaver to intervene.
Swinson told police that Weaver instructed him to use the men’s restroom or a family restroom, allegedly saying it was “obvious” he was not a woman.
He described the interaction as humiliating but also told reporters he never intended for Weaver to lose his job.
“I’m actually a little saddened by that,” Swinson told The Center Square’s Johnny Edwards. “But again, if it prevents harassment of the next trans person, I suppose that’s all for the good.”
Weaver defended his actions as calm, polite, and discreet. He disputed claims that he used the word “obvious” and explained that his bodycam was not activated due to a technical malfunction.
Weaver, 70, served 28 years with the department before retiring and continuing part-time as a reserve officer.
He said the incident has cost him private security work in the Atlanta film industry and expressed frustration over the national attention it received.
DeKalb County allows patrons to use facilities matching their gender identity and passed a 2023 ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on “perceived gender-related identity.”
Georgia law maintains gender separation in certain public spaces, creating tension between local protections and broader regulations.
Weaver’s Internal Affairs file also cited procedural violations, including failing to activate his bodycam, not seeking prior permission to work at the voting site, and inadequate communication with dispatch.
Despite first-time violations, department leadership—Assistant Chief Lonzy Robertson, Maj. Theodore Golden, and Chief Greg Padrick—overrode standard progressive discipline guidelines, recommending termination instead of written counseling.
The department stated that any misconduct warranting disciplinary action is grounds for removal from the reserve program, including retired officers working part-time.
The incident has sparked debate among community members and legal observers.
Beth Parlato, senior attorney at the Independent Women’s Law Center, praised Weaver’s actions as “standing up for reality and common sense.”
Conservative commentators have criticized the firing as an example of overreach, arguing officers should be empowered to protect the privacy and safety of women and children in public spaces.
Supporters of Swinson’s rights countered that the termination reflects the county’s commitment to LGBT protections.
Weaver continues to receive his $3,400 monthly pension and teaches firearms classes to airline pilots but says the termination has affected other professional opportunities.
He maintains that the confrontation was a matter of protecting public safety and privacy, framing the firing as a consequence of a politically motivated environment.
“They just wanted me to go away,” Weaver said. “This came from up top, and it’s really frustrating.”
The case highlights the ongoing tension between local policies aimed at inclusivity and the practical concerns of public safety, privacy, and commonsense protections in public spaces.
Many argue that similar incidents will continue unless policies clearly support the ability of officers to enforce safety without fear of political backlash.
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