Date: Sun, 29 Jan 95 21:15:34 PST Subject: LAPD Reprint of a follow-up to LAPD piece AFTER READING THE STORY BELOW YOU CAN FAX YOUR COMMENTS TO LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF WILLIE L. WILLIAMS AT (213) 485-8861 ================================================================= COMPILED FROM WIRE SERVICE DISPATCHES Date: Fri, 27 Jan 1995 Gay Leaders Ask For Investigation Into Alleged Harassment of Gay Man LOS ANGELES -- Leaders of the city's gay community urged the police department Friday to investigate a reported incident of officers harassing a suicidal, gay robbery victim. ``We have a message,'' said Lorri Jean, executive director of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. ``We will not tolerate hate crimes being perpetrated against our people by the LAPD.'' The alleged incident was reported in a recent edition of the New York Times Magazine. Reporter Richard Rayner said he and a photographer on a police ride-along saw an officer verbally berate a homeless, 19-year-old gay robbery victim while seven other officers stood by doing nothing. Police Cmdr. Tim McBride said internal affairs investigators were looking into the incident. ``It is a very high priority and will be treated with immediate dispatch,'' he said. The American Civil Liberties Union, meanwhile, sent a letter to Police Chief Willie Williams and the Police Commission asking for investigations into seven other alleged anti-gay incidents detailed in the magazine. McBride said the ACLU letter had been received and the alleged incidents would be investigated. ------- cut here -------- McBride said the LAPD has made efforts to improve relations with the gay and lesbian community. He said the department now provides sensitivity training for personnel at all levels -- from recruits to upper management. If the latest allegations are true, McBride said, the training program will have to be re-evaluated.