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Tell Hollywood, Florida Police to Address Police Department Homophobia
  1. Signatures
    223 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Chief of Police (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Chief of Police (Chadwick Wagner)
      • Major, Professional Standards (Joseph Healey)
      • Assistant Chief (James Jones)
  2. Created By
    Change.org
About this Petition Petition Letter

It seems like the police department in Hollywood, Florida has a bit of a problem with officers who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. In recent weeks, the police department has engaged in sexual policing of its officers, booting an officer from its force who appeared in a gay adult movie when he was 22-years-old.

That officer, Michael Verdugo, has filed a lawsuit to try and keep his police certification. He doesn't understand why he should be punished for a movie he appeared in five years before he even became a police officer.

Similarly, another LGBT officer, Christina Rodriguez, charged that the Hollywood, Florida police department has a real problem with homophobia on its hands. Officer Rodriguez has made charges that some officers within the force openly discriminate against LGBT people.

"It's difficult sometimes to keep [strong] when you don't have that strength behind you from within your safe haven of your own police department walls," Rodriguez said.

That's simply unacceptable for a police department -- an institution designed to keep all people safe, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Send the Hollywood, Florida police department a message that homophobia has no place in a police department. Firing people for actions in their past, or not creating a safe environment for LGBT officers is egregious, and the Hollywood police department should know better.

Recent Signatures

Please address homophobia within the Hollywood Police Department

Dear Chief Wager, Assistant Chief Jones, and Major Healey

In recent weeks, the Hollywood, Florida police department has come under accusations of fostering homophobia within its ranks. In one case, an officer (Michael Verdugo) was booted from the force because of an appearance in a gay film -- five years before he joined the police department. While some officers might not agree with Vergudo's choice to appear in the film, how does his appearance in a film many years ago affect his ability to be a good police officer today?

In another instance, a gay police officer with your department suggested that the Hollywood Police Department does not create a safe space for openly gay officers. According to Officer Christina Rodriguez, "It's difficult sometimes to keep [strong] when you don't have that strength behind you from within your safe haven of your own police department walls."

Why would the Hollywood Police Department not value the safety of its LGBT officers? Moreover, why would the Hollywood Police Department engage in sexual policing of its officers, and then subsequently discipline officers for irrelevant and legal things they might have done in one's past?

I urge you to respond to growing accusations of homophobia within your department. Please start by reinstating Officer Verdugo, and please follow up by describing some specific policies your department can enact in order to make the Hollywood Police Department safe for all officers, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Thank you for your time.

[Your name]

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