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Cop Settles
in Antigay Discrimination Suit

Cop Settles
in Antigay Discrimination Suit

Police officer Adam Bereki, 29, has reached a settlement with the city of Huntington Beach, Calif., ending an antigay discrimination lawsuit, TheOrange County Registerreported Monday. According to the Register,Bereki alleged that his peers harassed him by placing a gay escort ad in his locker, suggesting he was HIV-positive, and insinuating that he handled only gay sex crimes.

Police officer Adam Bereki, 29, has reached a settlement with the city of Huntington Beach, Calif., ending an antigay discrimination lawsuit, TheOrange County Registerreported Monday.

According to the Register,Bereki alleged that his peers harassed him by placing a gay escort ad in his locker, suggesting he was HIV-positive, and insinuating that he handled only gay sex crimes. James Trout, Bereki's attorney, described the antigay discrimination Bereki said he suffered after a rumor that Bereki was gay began circulating among other Huntington Beach police officers. "They really relentlessly harassed and ridiculed him," Trout told the Register. "They made his life miserable, and he couldn't take it anymore." After complaining three times to supervisors, Bereki agreed to go on administrative leave in February 2007. The Registerreported that police chief Kenneth Small will meet with the accused officers later this month. Although none of them have been placed on administrative leave, Lt. Dave Bunetta, a department spokesman,told the Register, "Anyone being harassed or victimized will not be tolerated by the police department." The city has not acknowledged any wrongdoing, he added. Bereki received a lump sum of $150,000 and will receive a $4,000 monthly disability payment for the rest of his life, the Registerreported, potentially totaling approximately $2.15 million. (The Advocate)

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