Are Inappropriate Police Responses Becoming Fashionable?

categories: LGBT Rights and Politics, State LGBT News

Published July 01, 2009 @ 07:30AM PT

Just a few days after the police department in Fort Worth, Texas raided a gay bar on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and violently arrested several patrons, word comes that another police department - this time in San Diego - raided a campaign fundraiser held at a lesbian couple's home, arresting several attendees and using pepper spray on a largely middle-aged audience.

Shari Barman, 60, hosted the event at her home with her partner, Jane Stratton, as a fundraiser for Congressional candidate Francine Busby (pictured above), who is running for office in a rather "red" part of California. Earlier in the evening, an anti-gay neighbor hurled discriminatory epithets at the crowd gathered. A half hour later, police raided the event, citing a "noise complaint" and not only arrested one of the hosts (Stratton), but used pepper-spray on the crowd. Even better, the police dispatched seven patrol cars and a helicopter (WTF!) to control the crowd.

Never mind that the crowd was mostly 50 middle-aged people eating appetizers and listening to a Democratic candidate for Congress. And never mind the fact that three other neighbors reporting hearing no noise whatsoever (one even said that he was asleep until the San Diego Police Department came crashing onto the scene).

The bizarre circumstances at this event are still playing out, but whatever the case, it seems like the San Diego Police Department not only went overboard, they went freakin' postal. Six patrol cars and a helicopter? Is there no other crime happening in the city of San Diego?! And using pepper spray on a largely middle-aged audience at a political fundraiser? If that doesn't constitute unnecessary punishment, I'm not sure what does.

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Comments (17)

GOD, that is insanely disuturbing! I mean, the neighbor must have lied and said that they had bombs or something.

However, it wouldn't be the first time that some of the police in San Diego have shown their anti-LGBT sentiments... only less subtle this time.

Posted by Trang Christine Ta on 07/01/2009 @ 08:54AM PT
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uhm, was it 6 or 7 patrol cars lol

either way, this is really odd for San Diego, I live in SD County, usually the San Diego police are on our side and not homophobic at all.

a very weird situation indeed. Was Busby even there?

Posted by Shane Goreski on 07/01/2009 @ 10:04AM PT
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Shane, I too live in SD County, more specifically in Hillcrest/Banker's Hill. However, this DID take place in North County, which is still VERY homophobic. Vista is VERY VERY homophobic.

Busby was there, but as she said, "what could I have done, they were pepper spraying people for no reason."

The question I have is since when does a "noise" complaint become an issue to have a helicopter dispatched at tax-payer expense?

Posted by Dave Hershey on 07/02/2009 @ 04:45PM PT
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The police should be held accountable for what they did as much as anyone else.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 07/01/2009 @ 10:30AM PT
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How can we respond (phone?) in a way that punishes this police force?

Posted by Greg Goldgof on 07/01/2009 @ 10:43AM PT
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Francine Busby was there. She told the San Diego Union Tribune that police over-reacted, and that they used intimidation tactics: http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/01/busby-seeks-help-fight-8216intimidation8217/

Posted by Michael Jones on 07/01/2009 @ 10:56AM PT
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This really suprise me, we have one of the most lgbt friendly police forces in America...so I thought.

Posted by Sean Stidham on 07/01/2009 @ 01:20PM PT
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I think the important thing about this story is that a neighbor allegedly was yelling anti-gay slurs at the party goers -- police were called by "someone." I don't think that's a coincidence at all.

Truth be told, if a neighbor complains to the police, real or imagined, the police will come. Thus, homophobic neighbors can really complain about anything and these situations can be the result. So very sad. I firmly believe it was a similar case with the lesbian's house in San Antonio - but the police made lots of horrible remarks about their sexuality... pardon me... the police allegedly made those remarks.

Posted by Jay Says on 07/01/2009 @ 01:53PM PT
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I think you make some good points, Jay. This may just be a case of police responding to a dopey call from an anti-LGBT neighbor. That said, it seems weird to send a half dozen patrol cars and a helicopter, and to use pepper spray...that's not the type of "protection" police are supposed to be in the business of offering.

Posted by Michael Jones on 07/01/2009 @ 02:00PM PT
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It's unfortunate that San Diego police raided a fundraiser that was supported by a lesbian couple. In addition, I condemn the police officers for the raid. Such intolerance is unjustified and is why I also condemn the neighbor for discrimination and for calling the police who would do wrong. The raid even involved a helicopter which was only used as a mechanism for intolerance, thus shame on the San Diego police officers for their intolernace.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 07/01/2009 @ 03:26PM PT
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This was actually in CARDIFF, CA. The SHERIFF deputy in question over-reacted.

Posted by Mike Anders on 07/01/2009 @ 08:54PM PT
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Oh, man. Good thing I'm not a party person, or I might be next!

Posted by Luella - on 07/02/2009 @ 07:21AM PT
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Stone Wall anyone? I think this country is long overdue for a good riot. LOL... oh wait I am serious. Heh

Posted by Chris Marshall on 07/02/2009 @ 10:17AM PT
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You are Right Dave,There was no reason to have a Helicopter flown in at our Expense. I don't know why the police are getting away with targeting Homosexuals.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 07/02/2009 @ 05:02PM PT
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That is absolutely disturbing! How did we suddenly jump back 30-40 years?

Posted by Amber Bauer on 07/02/2009 @ 10:03PM PT
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Aerial assault? Pepper Spray? Lesbians? I'll just say what everyone is thinking...this story has "Charlie Sheen" written all over it!

Posted by Turk Fowler on 07/03/2009 @ 11:26AM PT
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What they done aint right...Aint right at all.

I would strongly suggest that everyone who was at that party initiate a class action lawsuit against the san diego police and sue them for harrasment and false arrest.

If they could, I'd say sue the neighbor too.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 07/03/2009 @ 05:24PM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.