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January 10, 2001

Police chief asked to investigate remarks

- Anti-gay comments attributed to TC officer have raised questions about code of conduct
By HEATHER VAN DYKE
Record-Eagle staff writer
      
      TRAVERSE CITY - The city's Human Rights Commission is asking the chief of police to investigate statements about homosexuality attributed to an officer in a recent newspaper article.
      Mark Williams, chairman of the Traverse City Human Rights Commission, said concern was raised at Monday night's meeting about statements attributed to officer Dave Leach in an article from the Detroit Free Press.
      The Jan. 4 article discussed the controversy surrounding the city's bumper stickers meant to promote diversity. Some have criticized the stickers and their rainbow design as promoting the gay lifestyle.
      The Free Press article said Leach believes homosexual behavior is a perversion and sin. However, the comment was not a direct quote from Leach.
      Leach could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
      The Human Rights Commission wants to know what Leach indeed did say and whether his comments are in violation of any city police policy or code of conduct.
      "I think there was a feeling at the meeting last night that we didn't know what statements were actually made in their entirety," Williams said Tuesday.
      Ralph Soffredine, police chief, is out of town until Thursday and could not be reached for comment. City Manager Richard Lewis said he was unfamiliar with city police policy and would have to ask Soffredine.
      In an interview last week on Christian radio station WLJN of Traverse City, Leach said that he is not against diversity or anti-hate symbols, station manager Brian Harcey said.
      "I do find the lifestyle of homosexuality very offensive based on the principles of the word of God, as the Bible very clearly states, and I find it offensive driving a vehicle proclaiming this lifestyle," Leach said during the interview, which was taped.
      The controversy surrounding the city's rainbow bumper stickers has drawn nationwide interest, including reports in the Washington Post and by National Public Radio.
      It also has drawn the attention of the Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. He and 15 other people from his church will be picketing outside city hall on Jan. 29.
      Phelps and his organization are known for leading the anti-gay picketing during the funeral of Matthew Shepard. Shepard was lured from a Wyoming bar by two men posing to be gay and was later tied to a fence and beaten to death.