On Tuesday a Newport
Beach, Calif., police officer was awarded $1.2 million by an
Orange County jury who believed his claim that he was denied
promotions partly because of false rumors that he is
gay.
The
Los Angeles Times
reports that Neil Harvey -- a 27-year veteran of the
NBPD -- alleges he was passed over for lieutenant despite
having more experience and more formal education than other
candidates, and that former police chief Bob McDonell never
promoted anyone perceived to be gay. Harvey also claimed he was
unpopular in the department because he previously reported
misconduct by fellow officers.
"The one thing
he's always wanted to do is be a police officer,"
Harvey's attorney, Jack Girardi, said. "There's a
certain sense that this jury validated the reasonableness of
the complaints he made. I guess that might make going back to
work a little bit easier."
In related news,
police officers in Orange County have been
accused
of closing down a party at a local bowling
alley because it attracted gay patrons.