Police Lieutenant’s Homophobia Revealed in Antigay Letter

A lieutenant with the police department in Stockton, Calif., is under administrative review for writing a hate-filled letter to the local newspaper, in which he condemns the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality.

The Record published the 282-word letter from Lt. Toby Will, a former Marine and 25-year veteran of the Stockton police force, in Wednesday's edition.

Will claims in his letter, headlined "Marriage Ruling Shuns God," that those who live according to "vile and sinful passions" will face "the wrath of God."

"When the highest office in the land publicly declares the legitimizing of homosexuality to be a great victory for the nation, you can be sure that God is giving that nation over to its own destruction."

Stockton Police Department spokesman Joe Silva, asked to respond to Will's letter to the editor, provided reporters with a one-sentence statement:

"He doesn't speak for the department and his use of the police title is under administrative review."

Record editor Mike Klocke told Sacramento TV station KXTV that Will enclosed a personal note with his letter, suggesting he knew his stance would be controversial and perhaps even put his job in jeopardy. Klocke quoted from the note:

"As a lieutenant in a moderate-sized police agency, I would like to be one voice that makes it very clear I operate from a biblical world view, not a pop cultural one.

"Though this may have a negative impact on an otherwise impeccable police career, I earnestly request that you print what I write."

In a story on the newspaper's website, Klocke answered questions, such as "Why did The Record publish it?"

"My answer can be summed up in three words: The First Amendment," Klocke wrote.

"It has been argued that the tone and some of the words in Lt. Will's letter (vile, sinful, corrupt, debauchery) should have ticketed the letter for the cutting-room floor. We do edit letters. The tone could have been lessened without taking away Lt. Will's overall viewpoint."

But Klocke was firm in defending the printing of Will's letter, saying his position with the police department was a factor:

"Police lieutenants are crucial in the Stockton Police Department hierarchy. They make decisions on such matters as the deployment of resources. Lt. Will is a public figure."

Klocke said that some media outlets were incorrect in reporting that the paper printed Will's police department title and affiliation only because Will asked. "It was our choice to list his title," Klocke wrote. With letters to the editor, the newspaper usually publishes only the writer's name and city of residence, but it includes other information, such as job titles and affiliations, "when it's germane to the context of the letter," the editor said.

He went on to explain that the paper "has been consistent in its editorial support of marriage equality" and that he himself is a supporter with relatives and friends in same-sex marriages. He concluded that "As with all issues, I take pains to not let personal views influence our news coverage."

Stockton Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, chair of the California legislature's LGBT caucus, told KXTV she was shocked upon seeing The Record's letters to the editor page.

"I choked on my coffee," she said. Eggman married her partner of 33 years, Renee Hall, in 2013.

Eggman expressed concern that the homophobic views of a high-ranking police official in her hometown could generate fear among Stockton's gay citizens.

"When you need to call 911, you should feel safe that the person who responds is there to support you no matter who you are," Eggman said.

Watch a report from KXTV on Lt. Toby Will's letter below.