In May, community members in Lansing, Michigan alleged that a gay sex sting at the Fenner Nature Center, which resulted in two arrests and a warrant for a third, unfairly targeted gays. New evidence appears to show that was the case. The sting was prompted by an email request from Board of Police Commissioners member Jan Kolp.
The request was revealed in an email from Lieutenant Larry Kraus to his Special Ops unit.
Said Kraus:
"I'd also like to get Police Commissioner, Jan Kolp off my back and
help out Lt. Nosotti. Apparently the fella's are out in full force at
Fenner looking for male love. I'd like to set up some surveillance and
see if we can catch a couple of them servicing one and other, so they
can be charged with Gross Indecency."
The Michigan Messenger reports: The email seems to run counter to earlier statements by Kolp
who has argued she did not call in her capacity as a police
commissioner but only 'as a person who has lived on Forest Road for 40
years and president of Forestview Neighborhood Association … I would
hope they would handle anyone's complaint the same way.' Kolp declined to comment Tuesday when reached for comment."
The Michigan Messenger reports: "Triangle Foundation, which monitors and reports on hate crimes and
discrimination against the LGBT community, has long criticized what
they have characterized as 'Bag-a-Fag' or gay sting operations. The
term was coined by Michigan State Police troopers involved in
operations at state highways, according to a report by former judge and lawyer Rudy Sierra."
