The LGBT subcommittee of the Chicago Police Department's 23rd Precinct voted during its monthly meeting Aug. 26 to remove the powers of embattled cop Richard Fiorito, who allegedly has been involved in anti-gay actions.
Officer Jose Rios, the police's LGBT liaison, started the meeting with a brief rundown of old news.
Rios praised the LGBT community for their summer events, stating that considering the size of the community he was excited to report that there were nearly no issues during the summer's pride parade and LGBT summer festival.
"It was very easy work," said Rios of the summer's gay events. "It looks good for the community."
However, most of the private citizens who came to the subcommittee meeting showed up to express their concern about the Boystown area, and not to toast its successes.
Instead, the largest attendance ever for a LGBT subcommittee meeting was prompted by the actions of veteran beat officer Richard Fiorito and the Chicago Police Department's decision to keep him on active duty in Boystown.
Fiorito created something of a good reputation for himself over his long career by having one of the highest arrest records for DUIs in Illinois. Fiorito's DUI arrest statistics even garnered some attention from the respected advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who last year gave Fiorito an award for his achievements.
This reputation, however, may prove to be less heroic than his arrest record suggests, for more than 20 lawsuits have been filed against Fiorito claiming that many of his DUI arrests had been false or performed incorrectly.
Claims have also been made that Fiorito purposely arrested gay motorists and used anti-gay slurs while processing them.
"It's like being mugged for $2,000," stated one meeting attendee, who was also a victim of one of Fiorito's questionable DUI arrests. "I am 33 years old and have been living in this city my entire life and that was the first time I ever felt really discriminated against for my sexuality."
Of particular interest to the private citizens who attended the subcommittee meeting was the fact that while awaiting a ruling on the multiple lawsuits that he is facing, Fiorito is still an active duty officer in the Boystown area.
"It's simply disgusting," shouted Ron Woods during the subcommittee meeting's proceedings. "I own a little bit of property down the street and I cannot stand for this type of injustice. I will not stand for it."
There is a precedent for the private citizen's claims to have Fiorito removed from active duty as he awaits a decision on his cases.
Veteran Chicago officer Joe Parker, who has also been investigated for allegedly making false DUI arrests, was placed on desk duty while his investigation went forward last year.
Rios, however, explained that the 23rd Precinct, which patrols the Boystown area, was unable to comment on the situation, and added that taking Fiorito off of active duty was "not up to them."
Rios did state that if a decision was made by the private citizens of the subcommittee he would take that information to his commander the following day.
Whether a resolution stating the community's concern over Fiorito's still being on active duty could be passed by the subcommittee was then debated between the police and the private citizens. Eventually it was decided that the private citizens could pass a resolution expressing their concern.
Rios stated he would pass along any resolution that was voted upon to his commander.
One attendee quickly drafted a resolution, which was then was read aloud and voted upon.
The resolution read, "The GLBT Subcommittee of the 23rd District calls upon command-level Chicago Police staff to remove Officer Richard Fiorito's police powers pending resolution of the serious internal and federal civil rights charges pending against him. Furthermore, given the evidence of apparent criminal behavior, we believe there is probable cause for the Cook County States Attorney's Office to file criminal charges against Fiorito for Perjury, False Arrest and False Imprisonment. We call upon them to file such charges immediately."
The resolution was passed unanimously amongst the private citizens, with the Chicago police officers in attendance abstaining.
"I think we kind of got the royal run-around today," stated one attendee immediately following the meeting. "But we did pass a resolution that I hope will be given to people high enough on the ladder to get things done. I encourage people to come to more district and police meetings to voice their frustrations. We need to show to the police force that this is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."