Posted on 07/18/2015 7:09:19 PM PDT by markomalley
A high-ranking California police lieutenant has been placed on leave after he sent a newspaper a letter condemning the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide. He signed the letter with his rank and employer — and the newspaper editor says that's how he wanted it to appear in print.
In a letter to the editor of the Stockton Record, Stockton Police Lt. Toby Will called legal same-sex marriage "blatant debauchery." The letter, titled "Marriage ruling shuns God," was posted online on July 7.
The Stockton Record then printed an article headlined "Cop's letter sparks concern." It quoted police spokesman Joe Silva as saying Will "does not speak for the Police Department, and regarding his use of his police position, it is under administrative review."
Silva told NBC News that Will was officially placed on paid administrative leave on July 13, pending the outcome of the review.
The following day, the editor of the paper, Mike Klocke, wrote a lengthy response to questions the paper had received about printing the letter. He said Will was adamant that he wanted his official title to be printed if the letter was published.
Police chief Eric Jones told NBC affiliate KCRA that part of the investigation into Will's actions while he is on leave will focus on whether the lieutenant purposefully misrepresented the view of the entire department "because of the indication that it may have purported that it was the statement of the police department."
Jones visited the San Joaquin Pride Center with other Stockton officers on Thursday night to assure attendees that the Stockton Police Department is accepting. "We are responsible for treating everyone fairly and equitably — and that's what tonight was all about," Jones said at the meeting.
Renee Hall, president of the board for Pride Center, said she was "shocked" when she first read the letter. "I feel like if something like that gets out in the public from a pretty prominent person, then it gives folks the ability to act on those things," she told KCRA.
The Stockton Record printed several letters from readers responding to Will. Some readers supported his opinion, but disagreed with his choice to make them known in a public forum, while others supported his view and his choice to speak out. Others wholeheartedly disagreed with Will.
"I resent this man with real authority insinuating his law enforcement position into this discussion," one reader wrote.
Seems to me the Left doesn’t mind vilifying people at all.
They just don’t want their own group vilified.
They want it on the same level as racism to shut off debate.
There aren't enough lions in the stadium yet to feed him to, so he'll be placed on leave until the everything is ready.
” it gives folks the ability to act on those things”
hmmmmm like Burn this CIty Down? that sort of thing
“Give them space to destroy”
Whitey must die”
that sort of thing?
there were no stated nor implied directives to do anyone any DAMAGE in tha letter Ms PRIDE WItch!
People that lose their job for voicing their opinion, unless egrigious or threatening, should be able to sue the people harassing them for lost wages.
GAYSTAPO at it again.
Thoughtcrime. Soon to be expanded to criticism of islam, then what?
Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, we can’t have that! All bow down to the new Homosexual “tolerant” Nazis. They are coming for us all.
As it was in the Days of Lot,
so shall it also be the in the Days of the Coming of the Son of Man.
That’s what I thought also.
If he gets fired, get a good attorney, and sue Stockton blind.
They’ll settle.
Then write another letter.
He might have had a clause in his employment contract about using his official position in ways not in keeping with policy, etc., etc. But if not, he might have a case.
This is horse$hit. I worked in NY State Corrections, and wrote the newspaper all the time complaining about Mario Cuomo, as well as the court system. I never got any flak at work about it because I was speaking for myself, and not as a representative of the department. At no time in his letter, did he claim that he was speaking for the police department. For them to put him on leave for writing his own personal feelings and beliefs in a letter to the paper is an abuse of power, and whoever made that decision should be put on leave themself.
Why? Is it illegal now to send a letter to the editor?
A lawsuit that dwarfs Rodney King’s should be filed.
He insisted on signing himself with his rank and employer. Not smart if he wasn’t looking for trouble.
If he worked for me, I’d fire him. When you ask to have a letter to the editor printed with your employer’s name, you are effectively stating that your opinion reflects your employer’s opinion. I can’t think of any respectable business establishment that would allow their employees to do that sort of thing.
You have a right to an opinion not approved by the government only so long as you keep your mouth shut about it.
He didn't use his official position for anything. He wrote the letter as a citizen, not as a spokesman of the department. He isn't identified as a Lieutenant within the letter, or claim his department supports his beliefs. The title that appears under his name could have been added by the paper, and even if he wrote his title under his name when he sent the letter in, he did nothing wrong.
No one would fire him if he signed with his employer’s name and criticized Christian “bigots” who dislike homosexual acts.
You are correct I just saw that he signed the letter with rank, and employer. That’s a no no in almost all circumstances.
No matter what else you never speak for your employer. That’s why they pay people to do it right.
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