Ex-Virginia cop demands $15 million after sharing locker room with trans colleague

A former Virginia police officer has sued her department, alleging officials violated her privacy by requiring her to share a locker room with a transgender colleague. Now, she wants $15 million in damages.Former Norfolk Police Officer Meghan Grabow filed the lawsuit alleging that the department did not inform her she would be sharing a women’s locker room with a transgender woman. While Grabow was undressing, she encountered the recruit, who Grabow alleged stared at her “as a man would look at a woman,” Norfolk TV news station WVEC reported.WAVY reported, citing the complaint, that the recruit “presented as a man” at the time and wore a suit and tie. Grabow was wearing only her underwear, according to the lawsuit.Related: Virginia congressman's meeting with transgender Democrats erupts into profanity. Then he walked outCBS affiliate News 3 WTKR reported that Grabow was training the class of recruits when the encounter occurred in 2024. In language misgendering the recruit, the lawsuit alleges that she “made no attempt to dress, behave, or otherwise present himself as anything other than a man.”Grabow alleges that she raised concerns about the encounter with supervisors and discussed it with other officers. That ultimately led to a meeting with Police Chief Mark Talbot, who said the recruit’s presence in the locker room did not violate department policy. According to the lawsuit, Grabow was told to “learn to deal with it,” while one supervisor allegedly told her, “If you feel unsafe, take your gun into the shower.” Grabow was later suspended without pay, the lawsuit alleges.Related: A Virginia school board bent over backward to block an LGBTQ+ club. One mom explains why she’s suingGrabow says her Catholic faith and beliefs about trans people elevated her concerns. Norfolk officials declined to comment to local media outlets, citing pending litigation.Research by the Williams Institute in 2025 has not found evidence that policies permitting