Love means never having to say you’re sorry. But since the gay community and the police aren’t exactly lovey-dovey these days, Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead says he is sorry. On Tuesday, he characterized his department’s policy on bar inspections as “flawed.” He yearns to learn and grow.
In a press release, Halstead did everything but offer a big wet kiss to the gay community for what happened on June 28, when police and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officers raided the Rainbow Lounge and allegedly became abusive – all on the anniversary of a historic event in gay rights history.
Halstead said Fort Worth police will receive cultural awareness training to “enhance the police department’s partnerships” with gays. The Rainbow incident offers police “an opportunity to learn and grow.” Gays need to “feel reassured” that police are eager to protect and serve them.
Once the internal investigation is completed, the chief vows to reprimand, suspend, or fire any officer deemed guilty of excessive force, unprofessional conduct, neglect of duty, or failure to supervise.
That’s all fine and dandy, but Static still can’t figure out why this investigation is taking so long.
The raid occurred June 28. And yet the chief doesn’t expect to finish his report until October or November. Four or five months is too long for investigating a bar raid.
Foot-dragging makes Halstead and his department look as if they’re all talk and no action.
And, besides, no matter how long he scrutinizes the raid or how many policies he changes, the fact remains that under current state law, Fort Worth police and TABC officers can go into a bar, look at patrons dancing, playing pool, sitting at tables, talking, breathing, or whatever, and make quick judgments on who might be drunk, without relying on blood, breath, or field tests. Pretty much any person in any bar can be arrested at any time for any reason.
Overly vague laws give police too much power. Just ask Chad Gibson or any of the other Rainbow patrons who were injured or otherwise manhandled during their arrests that night.
Pass The Buck … Umm, Hat
At this week’s Fort Worth City Council meeting, Mayor Mike Moncrief asked the crowd in the council chamber to reach into their pockets. No, he wasn’t looking for donations to help cover the city’s $58 million budget shortfall. Moncrief was using the mayor’s bully pulpit to raise money for the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Two city staffers worked the room and came up with more than $300 in cash for the food bank, a key organization in feeding the hungry in this part of Texas.
Static is a big fan of how Fort Worth Cats fans pass the hat (actually, a bucket) after a player hits a home run, so the poor minor leaguer can buy some beer or maybe cover a car payment. But this hat-passing at a government meeting was a first – at least on behalf of the poor. Putting the bite on taxpayers to benefit fat cats, yes. Twisting the arms of donors on behalf of politicians, yes. But not this.
The timing was odd. The council on Tuesday was getting an up-close and painful look at the details of needed budget cuts: public pools, libraries, and community centers are all under the buzz saw – including, yes, lots of services that primarily benefit the poor, like shutting down the day labor center.
OK, this starts looking more familiar. The government giveth with one hand and taketh with the other. Whew. Static was worried there for a moment.
