07/03/2009
No More "Bar Checks" for Fort Worth
Via Joe.My.God.: Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead has ordered sensitivity training for his officers and the department has announced it is suspending "bar checks" as outrage continues over the infamous raids on the Rainbow Lounge that resulted in a severe head injury for Chad Gibson. This won't keep him from having headaches for two years, but at least it's finally the beginning of an appropriate response.
UPDATE: Check out the comments for contact info that will come in handy when letting Fort Worth know that this belated response is a baby step in the right direction...but is not nearly enough.
Posted 5:24 PM EST by Matthew Rettenmund in Crime, Fort Worth, Gay Bar, News, Texas | Permalink
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Why are all the headlines caps today? Looks a bit weird in an RSS feed reader.
Posted by: Caps | Jul 3, 2009 5:49:42 PM
Not enough until the Chief resigns for saying that the victim deserved it and releasing statements that were untrue and that he should know were untrue if he had waited until a proper review of the evidence instead of the statements of his fellow homophobic asshole officers.
Posted by: John M | Jul 3, 2009 6:21:26 PM
Let the Mayor and the City Council of Fort Worth how pissed off you are about TABC and the FWPD.
Mayor Mayor Mike Moncrief
mike.moncrief@fortworthgov.org
City Council:
W.B. "Zim" Zimmerman
District3@fortworthgov.org
Danny Scarth
District4@fortworthgov.org
Frank Moss
District5@fortworthgov.org
Jungus Jordan
District6@fortworthgov.org
Carter Burdette
District7@fortworthgov.org
Joel Burns
District9@fortworthgov.org
Sal Espino
District2@fortworthgov.org
Kathleen Hicks
District8@fortworthgov.org
via, SLOG
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/07/01/fort-worth-contact-the-city-council
Posted by: Wheezy | Jul 3, 2009 6:32:56 PM
@Wheezy: burns, hicks and espino are on our side. if you email them make sure it's to thank them for their support.
Posted by: Rae | Jul 3, 2009 7:17:46 PM
Rae, you're right. We have to remember to thank those who help us.
I get the feeling that this generation of LGBT folks are on our way to our own "Selma" and "Stonewall".
A change is coming.
Posted by: Derek Washington | Jul 3, 2009 9:18:13 PM
That chief has to acknowledge the absurdity of the groping crap before I will begin to believe anything has changed, then we expect an honest explanation for the raids!!
Posted by: jack | Jul 3, 2009 10:52:43 PM
For an editorial that violates its own spirit (don't judge until all the facts are in), check out the Fort Worth Star Telegram (the same newspaper that, unbelievably, brought us Molly Ivins) editorial:
http://www.star-telegram.com/225/story/1467477.html
In a nutshell: It was the responsibility of the gays to educate the officers and the "gay panic" defense is warranted. No officer not under duress would commit such acts as these.
Absolutely disgusting....and why this fifth-generation, native Texan and Aggie chooses to live in the Pacific NW.
Posted by: RecoveringTexan | Jul 4, 2009 12:30:28 AM
Jeff has ordered sensitivity for his officers and department announced its suspending Bar checks as outrage continuous
Posted by: mdeals | Jul 4, 2009 3:53:41 AM
The Mayor of Fort Worth has now requested that the United States Attorney get involved. I think federal involvement is another baby step in the right direction. Maybe a poll taken on this issue finally demonstrated that the Mayor needed to take a stand and issue a statement. Now if that Police Chief was made to resign....ahhh...wishful thinking...
Posted by: Will | Jul 4, 2009 6:33:29 AM
It's unfortunate that the Hate Crimes bill remains stalled in the Senate. It would have been useful in this situation.
Posted by: silverkjk | Jul 4, 2009 9:56:40 AM
The Police Chief is ordering "sensitivity training" for his officers?? WTF?? The Chief is the homophobe who said, "The faggot had it coming". Sure the cops need sensitivity training but they also need a new Chief. The faggot-hater Chief nees a pink slip ASAP!!
Posted by: msfwdc | Jul 4, 2009 1:36:32 PM
I'm not sure who to the lead person is here I thought it maybe Melvin but not sure. The Police Department has no jurisdiction over the Sate Agency TSB? what ever it is called. So who is investigating that. Make sure the GAY COPS are training the Cops. I will tell you NO COP will listen to a civilian, take it from years of trainoing cops on gay issues. So you want to reach out to your GOAL Chapters who have experience in training cops on L,G,B,T Issues. You also need to have a few of the Brass of the HPD to help you do the training, they need to by into the philosphy of community poilicing to do it. Then you may get a few guys listen to the traning.Your fight is not over.
Posted by: Mike | Jul 4, 2009 6:23:33 PM