Cop Who Objected to Utah Pride Gig Leaves Job

His attorney claims the officer did not actually refuse the assignment, but was ridiculed for requesting an alternative.

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

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Trudy Ring

June 12 2014 6:31 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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A Salt Lake City police officer who was placed on leave after he objected to participating in the Utah Pride Parade last weekend has left the department, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.

The policeman, whose name has not been made public, was scheduled to be in a group of motorcycle officers in the parade. He did not actually refuse to be in the group and would have participated if ordered to do so, but asked for a different assignment, his lawyer, Bret Rawson, told the Tribune.

"He feels he has been subjected to needless ridicule by the department for merely expressing a desire to work the parade without participating in the parade," Rawson said of his client, who cited religious objections to being in the parade. "He was surprised that he was placed on administrative leave -- a disciplinary action against him -- and he feels this was a violation of his rights."

Police chief Chris Burbank said the officer had resigned, but Rawson said this is inaccurate. "It's a matter of him being 'constructively terminated,' which is legalese for 'You made it unreasonable for me to stay, so I'm leaving,'" Rawson said.

When the Tribune asked if the officer planned to file suit, Rawson said no decision had been made.