Jonathan Frey, the fiancé of gay South Florida Deputy Shannon Bennett, who died from coronavirus last week, is speaking out after Davie police chief Dale Engle was suspended after going on a homophobic rant about Bennett to his department.
As we reported, Engle allegedly responded to police employees' concerns about contracting coronavirus by ordering them into formation in a parking lot, giving them an inspection, and berating them with a homophobic tirade about Bennett, who is believed to be the first officer to have died from the coronavirus in that state.
Engle's behavior was brought to the attention of Davie town administrators by Mike Tucker of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
Explained Tucker in a letter
Engle reportedly tried to walk back his remarks in a later email to staff, saying they had been taken out of context.
Said Frey, who was to marry Bennett in December, in a statement: “The Chief's alleged comments are completely false, homophobic, and slanderous. I look forward to the fair and impartial investigation initiated by the Town Manager, and I hope that appropriate action will be taken at its conclusion.”
