NY cop suspended for anti-gay slurs id PAA27867; Wed, 24 Sep 1997 15:08:23 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: Michael Novick Cop suspended after alleged run-in with gay officers' group Associated Press, 09/21/97 00:31 NEW YORK (AP) - A police officer who won a medal from a gay cops' group has been suspended for 30 days for allegedly using sexual epithets when he gave the medal back after the ceremony, police said. The Gay Officers Action League gave Officer Lawrence Johnston a medal for valor at the NYPD's annual Medal Day ceremony at police headquarters on Thursday, said Marilyn Mode, a police spokeswoman. He allegedly used ``some very vulgar language with sexual innuendos'' when he returned the medal shortly after ceremony, Mode said. He has been suspended without pay, she said. It was not immediately clear why Johnston was given the medal or why he returned it. If the allegations against him are true, they suggest ``the worst sort of homophobic behavior'' Mode quoted Police Commissioner Howard Safir as saying. Safir learned of the allegations on Friday, she said. Johnston was assigned to the Emergency Services Unit, an exclusive squad that negotiates hostage situations and rescues, Mode said. Officers must be selected for it. A number of police and fraternal organizations participate in Medal Day, during which officers are singled out for commendation. The charges against Johnston have not been determined, pending an investigation, Mode said. GOAL president Officer Edgar Rodriguez said he would not provide any details on the incident before a GOAL news conference next week. Turning the Tide POB 1055 Culver City CA 90232 310-288-5003 killercops http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/4801 ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytsxp-09.24.97-15:08:24-24525