Police officer Adam Bereki, 29, has reached a settlement
with the city of Huntington Beach, Calif., ending an
antigay discrimination lawsuit, The Orange 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)
