10/01/2007
NYPD Blues: Gay Cop Sues Department Over Threats, Harassment
Michael Harrington, a 30-year-old, five-year veteran with the New York Police Department, has filed suit against the city and NYPD claiming that he has been "threatened with violence, called vulgar names and treated unfairly by supervisors because of his sexuality" since he came out to another officer in 2003.
According to the Associated Press: "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. While working at the 79th Precinct in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, Harrington brought his domestic partner to the station house Christmas party. Upon introducing his partner, another officer spit out his drink and began laughing. Harrington says he complained to a supervisor about being mistreated and the supervisor said he was going to transfer him to the Sixth Precinct in Greenwich Village 'so plaintiff could be with his people,' the suit said. At the Sixth Precinct, court papers say, a co-worker told Harrington in December 2006 that 'all faggots should be shot.'"
Harrington also says he had hoped to adopt a child but the department did not allow him to work day shifts, was given "rookie" tasks, and that by 2007 the continuous harassment had caused his health to decline. Harrington seeks unspecificied damages.
Gay Cop Sues NYC, Police, for Harassment [ap]
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 8:34 AM EST by Andy in Law Enforcement, New York, News | Permalink
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This is unfortunate. But, some of the allegations do sound petty (He overheard someone refering to him as a faggot, as example).
I'm not sure a judge is going to view some of this as nothing more than whining and the officer as trying to profit from it.
Posted by: Cramps | Oct 1, 2007 9:01:53 AM
OK I KNOW I am going to get screwed here with these comments, but here goes anyways.... and even thought this is going to be a "don't blame the criminal blame the victim" route, hear me out...
The NYPD clearly has alot of gay and lesbian members, but this is the first we have realy heard about this kind of level of discrimination from that institution. This kind of backlash just does not come from co-workers without some kind of overt, outre behavior. I am gay and I work for a respected architectural firm, and on a daily basis I carry myself with discretion and class, and I have never ever heard any kind of deragetory comments like this guy dealt with. I can only imagine how Michael Harrington must have acted on a day to day, week to week basis to warrant such taunts. Oh I know, bring your lover to a NYPC Xmas party in EAST NEW YORK. And why would you "come out to another officer" when you could have done it with some dignity to the entire station, instead of coming off as predatory. And to supposedly endure this for 5 years is not only shameful to all of in the gay community but clearly the work of someone who know there would be $ome kind of $ettlement down the road.
As always we haven't heard both sides of the story, but I am sure there's going to be alot more details that arise which will surprise us all.
Posted by: Jackson | Oct 1, 2007 9:09:51 AM
You might have a point, but are really comparing an architectural firm with the police department? Architects are just smart interior decorators.
Posted by: Jeff | Oct 1, 2007 9:12:44 AM
I think I agree with Jackson. After all, doesn't the NYPD openly court GLBT recruits these days? I understand it is a masculine bastion along the lines of the military, but it's also an organization in one of the most cosmopolitan places on earth and has to take into account all the people it protects.
I definitely think we need to hear both sides of this story before coming to a conclusion. It doesn't quite add up at face value.
And, for the record, architects - good ones anyway - are probably some of the most brilliant people on earth. I know a few, and I know what goes into their jobs, and it impresses the hell out of me.
Posted by: MT | Oct 1, 2007 9:22:09 AM
Wow, talk about ignorance...and not on the part of anyone involved in the case.
1) Calling a fellow employee a faggot is no different than calling a female employee a hoochie or whatnot. Both of them should be considered workplace harassment. You can call them whatever you want on your time...but not in the workplace.
2)Jackons, seriously? The NYPD no longer even requires a college degreee and the starting salary in one of the most expensive cities in the world is under $35,000. Let's imagine the level of tolerance and education new recruits have. So don't even think of comparing it to an architectural firm and assume the complainant must have acted horribly. Based on that, I imagine you think rape victims ask for it, and that nelly homos should expect to get gay bashed.
3) Of COURSE the NYPD recruits gays...that's a political issue for PR and management...that doesn't mean the average beat cop gets any sort of message from immediate supervisors to not disrespect homosexuals.
The world if not some magical kingdom of tolerance, and thinking the NYPD would be different is silly.
Posted by: nycredneck | Oct 1, 2007 9:50:15 AM
This can't be true. Because "Chuck and Larry" taught us that municipal workers receive support from their coworkers when they come out. Isn't that right, GLAAD?
Posted by: crispy | Oct 1, 2007 9:54:42 AM
I don't trust cops and I wouldn't want to spend a lot of time around them. It's difficult for me to understand why so many people will join an organization that doesn't want or respect them.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 1, 2007 10:05:44 AM
A lot of cops go into the profession because they are bullies and being a cop basically gives them a license to bully. There are some good cops though but people should stop taking it for granted that all cops are good guys: they're not.
Posted by: Michael W. | Oct 1, 2007 10:21:45 AM
Let's just add this to the numerous racial and sexual discrimination suits already pending against the NYPD. Commissioner Kelly is doing a stand up job.
Posted by: Davey | Oct 1, 2007 10:23:25 AM
THANK YOU NYCREDNECK!! And F.U. (!!!) Cramps, Jackson, and MT!!!
"Oh - he shouldn't be so sensitive, it's okay to call someone a faggot at work! In fact, it should be okay to call them one any time any place! He probably was acting like one and deserved it."
I just got back from the Out & Equal conference - 2300 fags and dykes (it's okay to say that, right Craps, I mean Cramps, which is really not much better than Craps when you think about it?) working towards workplace equality. It was awesome - and very moving - and it looks like some of you assholes need to attend next year.
P.S. Uh, why would anyone make a comment about a gay architect? I mean, DUH!
Posted by: shane | Oct 1, 2007 10:40:13 AM
Shane-
You're not really doing much for your argument. How can you expect to be treated with respect when you can't even post a simple message on a blog without insulting people?
Posted by: Jeff | Oct 1, 2007 11:54:11 AM
Do you know what cops have deal with on a day to day basis on the streets of NY? Are you kidding me? This cop has GOT to develop a thicker skin.
I'm not saying that the harassment was ok, but a lawsuit is not going to change anything. We're talking about people's deep seated bigotry here, and the only thing that will change that is day to day interaction with gay people who are strong, tough, and can stand up to an idiot laughing in their face when they introduce their partner.
It would be nice if a lawsuit could wipe away bigotry, but it won't happen. This cop had to know the kind of atmosphere he was entering when he joined the force. He should not have expected a place of tolerance and acceptance, but a place of rough-housing, "brotherhood", fraternity behavior, and pushing each other's buttons.
Maybe I'm just prejudiced because the cops I've slept with have been very secure with themselves and would brush off the kind of behavior this guy is suing about.
Posted by: Gregg | Oct 1, 2007 12:15:53 PM
It would be more meaningful if we knew the number of pending discrimination suits the NYPD was facing.
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Oct 1, 2007 12:31:45 PM
No one should have to put up with being called offensive names on the job. I'm sorry but all of you with your "He should develop a thick skin and brush it off" need to grow spines. This kind of behavior only escalates which is especially dangerous in police work. Also, you are all basing your judgements on a single article--you are jumping to conclusions based on really limited information. And if people who stand up against this kind of harassment can't even expect support from other gay men we're all in a sorry state.
Posted by: db | Oct 1, 2007 12:47:43 PM
"Maybe I'm just prejudiced because the cops I've slept with have been very secure with themselves and would brush off the kind of behavior this guy is suing about."
Whether someone's secure or not, if they're threatened with violence it's stupid to brush it off--especially when we're talking about a job where people carry guns and are expected to back up other cops. If you're not a cop yourself, but just sleep with them, you have no idea what you're talking about.
Posted by: db | Oct 1, 2007 12:51:25 PM
Thanks DB for your well researched and brilliant dissection. You are obviously the greatest thinker of our time.
Posted by: Gregg | Oct 1, 2007 1:41:32 PM
okay, no no no. if his accusations are correct, he should win the case. I live very close to one of his former precincts and have actually been called a fagot by an officer on the street. i'm truly disgusted at the first few comments, i mean really.
"I am gay and I work for a respected architectural firm, and on a daily basis I carry myself with discretion and class, and I have never ever heard any kind of deragetory comments like this guy dealt with. I can only imagine how Michael Harrington must have acted on a day to day, week to week basis to warrant such taunts. Oh I know, bring your lover to a NYPC Xmas party in EAST NEW YORK."
i hope your financial demographic continues to protect you from dealing with your self hating ways. enjoy pseudo acclamation-it probably suits you.
Posted by: bigggnasty | Oct 1, 2007 1:48:52 PM
Damn, everbody's on edge today.
If New York City has laws against discrimination/harassment based on sexual orientation, then all city employees should adhere to it, if not, fire the motha' fu... How quickly we forget Mr. Washington.
And chill out, bitc...guys.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Oct 1, 2007 1:54:17 PM
I'm sure there are many more details, but we need to see how this stacks up with cases that the Supreme Court has already ruled on...a consistent environment of sexual harrassment that prevents an individual from completing his or her work is legally very different from an environment where people josh around, use crude names, and tell cheesy sexual jokes. The former is unacceptable, according to the Supremes, the latter, you just deal with it.
Sounds like he has been prevented from completing his duties due to this harrassment, but I'm sure there is more to the story...will have to see how it plays out.
Posted by: tom | Oct 1, 2007 5:59:58 PM
Gregg, seeing as how all your information apparently comes from sleeping with cops (which I really, really believe), I don't care what you think about my reasoning.
Posted by: db | Oct 1, 2007 6:20:00 PM
You're right Derreck, we're all really nasty on this board today. But it really bugs me the way so many people on this board immediatly side agains the gay people who have the nerve to report being gay bashed harrassed at work. I've got to stop coming on this site--it just bums me out too much.
Posted by: DB | Oct 1, 2007 6:23:55 PM
Jackson you have serious self-hating issues.
Posted by: eric | Oct 7, 2007 8:11:43 AM
Jackson isn't merely working in an architect's office, he's a house slave.
And he can't spell worth sh*t.
Posted by: Howie Kurtznot | Oct 7, 2007 6:33:22 PM