Debra Gauthier

Debra Gauthier is a former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department lieutenant who chronicled in a book her 21-year police career as a woman on a predominantly male police force.

Debra Gauthier
Police career
CountryUnited States
DepartmentLas Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Service years1980 - 2001
RankSworn in as Officer, 1980
Patrol officer
Other workNon-fiction author

Education

Gauthier graduated with a bachelor's degree in fine arts in 1979 and a master's in public administration in 1990 from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Career

She joined the Las Vegas police force in 1980 as the first woman in the department to be placed on street patrol.[1]

In 1986, she arrested Mafia lieutenant Herbert Blitzstein[2] during a multi-agency task force called “Operation Chutzpah.”[3]

She implemented the department's first bicycle patrol unit, which she oversaw as a sergeant. Afterward, in 1994, she was promoted to lieutenant.[1] She appeared as a cast member on Fox's TV series Cops while still a bike patrol sergeant.[4][5]

Gauthier claimed discrimination against the department while working in what she claimed was a male-dominated environment under unsafe conditions. After she was promoted to lieutenant and passed the captain's test, she was demoted following an internal affairs probe into ethics allegations brought by a subordinate.[6] In 1999, Gauthier was one of four women who held a news conference outside police headquarters claiming discrimination by the department.[7]

While still on the force, Gauthier filed a $1 million suit against her department for discrimination.[8][9][10] A federal jury ruled against her in 2002 and dismissed her lawsuit against the department.[11]

In 1999-2000, Gauthier was appointed as a member of the American Bar Association's Judicial Assessment Commission of the Nevada Supreme Court.[12]

In 2002, following a forced retirement after 21 years, Gauthier ran unsuccessfully for the office of sheriff of Clark County.[1] Ms. magazine wrote that one of her campaign platforms was disqualifying police officer candidates with histories of violent behavior. [13]

In August 2013, Gauthier appeared on Pat Robertson's The 700 Club on the Christian Broadcasting Network to discuss her career and her life as a woman working in a male-dominated police force. She was questioned about her known homosexuality.[14]

Bright Lights, Dark Places

In July 2011, a memoir titled Bright Lights, Dark Places: Pioneering As A Female Police Officer In Las Vegas was released by Tate Publishing. The book chronicles Gauthier's career as an officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department from 1980 to 2001.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote that "the picture (Gauthier) paints of the Metropolitan Police Department in the book is not a flattering one. She writes that she endured sexual harassment, was intentionally not notified of meetings she was supposed to attend, had her days off changed without notice and was passed over for promotions."[15]

Las Vegas columnist John L. Smith wrote that “former Metro Lt. Debra Gauthier has just published a revealing memoir of her life, police career and spiritual growth.[16]

She was described as a "trail blazer" by BlogTalkRadio for writing the book.[17] She also appeared on the "It's A Crime" show on KCAA-AM 1050 NBC Radio to discuss the book and her career.[18]

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References
  1. "Debra Gauthier aims to become Clark County's first female sheriff". Las Vegas CityLife. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  2. Las Vegas Sting: Operation Chutzpah | Debra Gauthier
  3. Columnist Jeff German: DuCharme once posed as 'dirty cop' to infiltrate the mob - Las Vegas Sun News
  4. Cops on Fox - TV Series Cast Members - Police, Officers, Deputies, Det, Cpl,People & K-9s
  5. TV Guide - "Cops Episodes on FOX: Las Vegas, Nevada"
  6. Las Vegas Sun, "Metro taping ban comes under fire," September 29, 1997
  7. Four officers claim Metro discrimination - Las Vegas Sun News
  8. Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Demoted female officer sues police for $1 million," June 6, 1998
  9. Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Demoted female police administrator claims discrimination," December 3, 1997
  10. Las Vegas Sun, "Demoted police sergeant sues Metro for $1 million," June 7, 1998
  11. Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Sexual Harassment Lawsuit: Federal jury rules against officer in case," January 18, 2002
  12. "AmericanBar.org, "Simplifying the Maze: A Fresh Look At Nevada's Supreme Court" - members" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
  13. Ms. magazine, "Woman Running to be First Female Sheriff of Clark County, Nevada," August 2002
  14. CBN The 700 Club - "Lady Police Officer Strives to be Top Cop"
  15. Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Former cop pens book detailing time as one of department's first female patrol officers," June 28, 2011
  16. Las Vegas Review-Journal, John L. Smith column, "Cop Lit" (scroll down)
  17. BlogTalkRadio, "Author Debra Gauthier, LVMPD Trail Blazer, shares new book," July 12, 2011
  18. Debra Gauthier | It's A Crime Radio
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