Gay cop sues city, NYPD, saying they allowed harassment

Drudge Report.com ^ | 9/29/07 | Samuel Maull

[Bulldawg Fan]

A gay police officer has filed a discrimination suit against the city and the New York Police Department, saying he was threatened with violence, called vulgar names and treated unfairly by supervisors because of his sexuality. The lawsuit was filed by Michael Harrington, 30, who claimed his superior officers failed to take proper action when he told them about the malicious and discriminatory mistreatment he suffered. "The hell he's gone through is heart wrenching," said Harrington's lawyer, George D. Rosenbaum. Connie Pankratz, spokeswoman for the city's Law Department, said the city had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment Harrington, a police officer since July 2002, says in court papers he disclosed to another officer at the 75th Precinct in the East New York section of Brooklyn in February 2003 that he was gay, and that was the beginning of his problems with co-workers. Harrington, of Brooklyn, said in the suit that within months he overheard an officer in the men's room referring to him as a "faggot." Harrington spoke to the officer who said he would hurt Harrington if he confronted the officer again. Court papers say Harrington also repeatedly sought a transfer from the 75th Precinct but his written applications "kept getting lost." He was told that after he finally transferred out of the 75th Precinct, that someone posted obscene drawings of him in a sex act, the suit claimed.

[Bulldawg Fan]

My first thoughts when reading this was to sit down and cry at the injustice, the close mindedness, the bigotry, the hate that engulfs our society. But after a few seconds, and when I was reading the story, I laughed out loud at the Christmas party reaction and that even in Greenwich Village, there was some sense of normalcy.

But undoubtedly the city will fall all over itself slamming the police department and eventually make this "victim" rich with settlements.

But one word of caution to Harrington, dont try to play footise in the restroom at the station....you might not get a foot rub in return.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

He should be a party planner or a floral designer or a hair stylist if he wants to be kissed on the cheek every morning when he shows up for work.

[elcid1970]

“Why-Emm-See-Aie!”

;^)

[Loyalist]

You don’t think they figured it out when he showed a little too much enthusiasm about doing strip searches?

[VaBthang4]

[A_Former_Democrat]

Oh, did those mean ol’ policemen hurt your widdle bitty feelings by calling you names?

Such an injustice. Thankfully namecalling doesn’t happen to anyone else.

[MaxMax]

He should’ve stayed in the closet. Boo-freekin-hoo.

[Islander7]

Law suits are far less hazardous and far more lucrative than REAL police work.

I am not buying this story at all. Even if it was true, this 'man' has no business on the police force. If a little name calling is too much for him to take, how could ever deal with a REAL criminal?

[Clemenza]

even in Greenwich Village, there was some sense of normalcy

That's because your typical NYPD officer is more Orange County (NY) or Pearl River than Greenwich Village.