Gay officer sues California city for discrimination
A police officer in Oceanside has sued the city, claiming he suffered discrimination and harassment from fellow officers after they found out he was gay and retaliated when he reported it. He also said the police department and city officials did nothing to stop the behavior, reported Q Voice News, last month.
Sgt. Tyler Peppard filed the suit Nov. 22 in California Superior Court for San Diego County.
The son of a police officer, Tyler Peppard was hired in 2016, but his partner outed him about six months into the job.
Supervisor to gay cop: “Your lifestyle choices do not add up to the values of our police department…Your dad is probably disappointed and embarrassed. He probably would prefer you turn in your badge and gun.”
“After being outed, Sgt. Peppard noticed an instant shift in the attitudes of some of his colleagues and management,” according to the suit.
On Aug. 30, 2017, Peppard’s supervisor, Field Training Officer Matt Byrd, met with him for a performance evaluation, according to court papers.
“Your lifestyle choices do not add up to the values of our police department,” Peppard said Byrd told him. “Your dad is probably disappointed and embarrassed. He probably would prefer you turn in your badge and gun.”
Peppard asked Byrd what “ ‘lifestyle choices’ meant exactly” and what it had to do with his performance as a law enforcement officer and was told, “Shut the fuck up. This is not your time to talk,” according to court papers.
Oceanside officials have started an independent investigation into Peppard’s treatment.
“The City takes these allegations seriously and has retained a law firm to conduct an independent investigation to review Sgt. Peppard’s allegations,” City Attorney John Mullen told San Diego’s NBC 7. “The investigation is ongoing. The City will have no further comment until all witnesses have been interviewed, all relevant evidence examined, and the independent investigation is concluded.”
Read more at www.qvoicenews.com.
