Gay Cop Files Bias Lawsuit

(Haledon, New Jersey) A New Jersey police office has launched a discrimination suit against Haledon, New Jersey and several of its police officials alleging that he was refused a promotion because he is gay.

Sgt. James Len said that once it became known in the department he is gay the work environment changed and he went from being an officer on the fast track to promotion to lieutenant to being dead ended.

The suit names Mayor Ken Pengitore, Councilman Ayman Mamkej and Police Chief Harold Engold Jr.

The 42 year old Len came out to his wife and children in April 2002 and shortly after that moved out of the family home.

His suit says that as word spread through the police department that he is gay officers on the force began to treat him differently.

"He was in line for promotions and was on the short list for the chief of police," his lawyer Charles Sciarra told the Herald News.

"Len went from favorite son to pariah instantaneously. They did not just ostracize Jim; they targeted his job solely because it was revealed he is gay."

The suit claims officers rigged the evaluation process in which Len was being considered for a promotion to lieutenant in order to prevent him from being promoted. It also says fellow officers harassed him and made anti-gay comments.

The court filing said that Len asked police officials to investigate his allegations of harassment, but was refused. Instead he was handed 14 departmental disciplinary charges. The allegations against Len were dismissed by the borough council in March.

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/05/052704copSuit.htm

Thats fucked up beyond beleif :(

Unfortunately homophobia is apparently still rife in some of the forces :(

Regards,

Lee