Sad but not suprised
Gay-bashing, improper arrest reports probed
Victoria E. Freile and Brian Sharp
Staff writers
(June 8, 2007) - Police Chief David Moore said Thursday that allegations of two separate and brutal beatings, and claims that responding officers not only ignored but terrorized the victims, has damaged the department - regardless of the outcome.
The allegations stem from separate but related confrontations beginning shortly after 2 a.m. Friday in a Park Avenue neighborhood. Making the incident more disturbing, officials said, are claims of gay slurs allegedly hurled by the assailants and one police officer.
"Whenever there is an accusation like this, of this magnitude, it hurts the image of the department," said Moore, who has ordered a "very rapid, very thorough" internal affairs investigation. "I would ask the community to trust us. We are looking into this situation. I would like to know what happened and take appropriate action."
Moore said he learned of the incident in an e-mail from one of the alleged victims on Tuesday, and ordered the investigation shortly thereafter. He said most of the seven alleged victims, a mix of gay and straight men and women, have since been interviewed. At least two independent witnesses also have given statements.
The next step is to call in the 12 to 15 officers who responded to the fight call. The chief said he would like to have answers to community questions "in the next week or so."
In the meantime, the officers remain on regular patrol, and police are attempting to question the alleged assailants.
"We are going to get to the facts. We are going to find out what happened," said Mayor Robert Duffy, who learned of the incident in a Channel 8 news report Wednesday night and was briefed by Moore on Thursday.
"If what is being alleged did occur, I would be deeply disappointed, appalled."
David Greenlaw, 21, of Rochester was with the first group to allegedly be attacked. Greenlaw said he and four friends, three men and one woman, left O'Callaghan's Pub on Monroe Avenue and were walking home when four individuals, two men and two women, shouted anti-gay epithets at them from a porch.
He said the foursome followed them up Goodman Street and set upon them near Harvard Street, punching, kicking and beating them with a metal rod.
Greenlaw said he and his friends eventually made it home, but two friends trailing behind were attacked, allegedly by the same four. He called police, he said, and all seven friends headed back out.
Differing accounts portray a confusing scene as officers arrived and tried to clear the area but were making no arrests.
"Out of our frustration, we started screaming at the cops, saying, 'Why aren't you doing anything?'" Greenlaw said. "They repeatedly said, 'Go home. Go home. Or you'll spend the night in jail.'"
He said it was when one man in their group "got up in one of the cop's face" that things got out of hand. The officer allegedly threw the man to the ground, drawing the rest of the group to his aid, at which time the officer allegedly called a woman in the group a derogatory name.
At least three of the friends were arrested on various infractions.
Kris Hinesley, executive director for the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, said her organization is in touch with City Hall and conducting its own investigation. She and others said the gay and lesbian community traditionally has worked well with the Police Department, which has a liaison appointed to build those relations.
Hinesley said there is likely to be an escalation of violence and anti-gay incidents in New York state as Albany debates a possible gay marriage law. A similar backlash recently was seen in Massachusetts, she said.
The alliance received 36 reports of hate crimes against individuals last year across upstate, two against organizations. There were another 14 calls alleging police misconduct throughout the region.
BDSHARP@DemocratandChronicle.com
VFREILE@DemocratandChronicle.com
Victoria E. Freile and Brian Sharp
Staff writers
(June 8, 2007) - Police Chief David Moore said Thursday that allegations of two separate and brutal beatings, and claims that responding officers not only ignored but terrorized the victims, has damaged the department - regardless of the outcome.
The allegations stem from separate but related confrontations beginning shortly after 2 a.m. Friday in a Park Avenue neighborhood. Making the incident more disturbing, officials said, are claims of gay slurs allegedly hurled by the assailants and one police officer.
"Whenever there is an accusation like this, of this magnitude, it hurts the image of the department," said Moore, who has ordered a "very rapid, very thorough" internal affairs investigation. "I would ask the community to trust us. We are looking into this situation. I would like to know what happened and take appropriate action."
Moore said he learned of the incident in an e-mail from one of the alleged victims on Tuesday, and ordered the investigation shortly thereafter. He said most of the seven alleged victims, a mix of gay and straight men and women, have since been interviewed. At least two independent witnesses also have given statements.
The next step is to call in the 12 to 15 officers who responded to the fight call. The chief said he would like to have answers to community questions "in the next week or so."
In the meantime, the officers remain on regular patrol, and police are attempting to question the alleged assailants.
"We are going to get to the facts. We are going to find out what happened," said Mayor Robert Duffy, who learned of the incident in a Channel 8 news report Wednesday night and was briefed by Moore on Thursday.
"If what is being alleged did occur, I would be deeply disappointed, appalled."
David Greenlaw, 21, of Rochester was with the first group to allegedly be attacked. Greenlaw said he and four friends, three men and one woman, left O'Callaghan's Pub on Monroe Avenue and were walking home when four individuals, two men and two women, shouted anti-gay epithets at them from a porch.
He said the foursome followed them up Goodman Street and set upon them near Harvard Street, punching, kicking and beating them with a metal rod.
Greenlaw said he and his friends eventually made it home, but two friends trailing behind were attacked, allegedly by the same four. He called police, he said, and all seven friends headed back out.
Differing accounts portray a confusing scene as officers arrived and tried to clear the area but were making no arrests.
"Out of our frustration, we started screaming at the cops, saying, 'Why aren't you doing anything?'" Greenlaw said. "They repeatedly said, 'Go home. Go home. Or you'll spend the night in jail.'"
He said it was when one man in their group "got up in one of the cop's face" that things got out of hand. The officer allegedly threw the man to the ground, drawing the rest of the group to his aid, at which time the officer allegedly called a woman in the group a derogatory name.
At least three of the friends were arrested on various infractions.
Kris Hinesley, executive director for the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, said her organization is in touch with City Hall and conducting its own investigation. She and others said the gay and lesbian community traditionally has worked well with the Police Department, which has a liaison appointed to build those relations.
Hinesley said there is likely to be an escalation of violence and anti-gay incidents in New York state as Albany debates a possible gay marriage law. A similar backlash recently was seen in Massachusetts, she said.
The alliance received 36 reports of hate crimes against individuals last year across upstate, two against organizations. There were another 14 calls alleging police misconduct throughout the region.
BDSHARP@DemocratandChronicle.com
VFREILE@DemocratandChronicle.com