Gay LAPD officer awarded $1 million for harassment

A jury has awarded $1.1 million to an openly gay Los Angeles police sergeant who said he was harassed and retaliated against because of his sexual orientation.

Ronald Crump sued the city last year alleging his supervisor at the police media relations section, Lt. John Romero, made derogatory remarks.

Romero, who has since been promoted to captain, allegedly described Crump as “the new Ruby minus the heels,” a reference to the woman he replaced in the unit.

On another occasion, Romero allegedly told him, “I was a religion major at Liberty University. Jerry Falwell would roll over in his grave if he knew I had hired you.”

Crump said he had made several attempts to voice his concerns and filed a written complaint. But these were determined to be unfounded by the LAPD’s Professional Standards Bureau and Crump was ultimately transferred from the media relations section to the Skid Row area.

He told the jury that the transfer was punitive.

The LAPD has come under recent criticism from an oversight agency over shortcomings in the way it investigates officers’ retaliation charges.

The decision against Crump is the second large judgment against the LAPD in as many months. Last month, a jury awarded $2 million to two Los Angeles police officers in a civil suit against the city and the department, alleging there was a “quota system” for writing traffic tickets on the city’s Westside.