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LAPD Sued for Alleged Discrimination against Officer's Religious Beliefs

By Tim Waggoner

LOS ANGELES, July 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An LAPD officer has sued the City of Los Angeles, the LAPD and others, alleging that his First Amendment rights were violated and that he was religiously discriminated against after he issued off-duty statements regarding the Bible's teachings on homosexual acts.

The LA Times has reported that Sgt. Eric Holyfield preached against homosexual acts during the eulogy for a fellow officer in 2006.  Holyfield, who is a pastor for a Christian community, quoted Bible passages and explained that "men should not lie with men; women should not lie with women. To do so was an abomination or sinful; one must repent or be condemned to hell."

Holyfield was asked by the deceased officer's family to say the short sermon during the service.  The lawsuit claims he never pointed out anyone in particular and never used offensive slang or terminology.

The lawsuit, which was filed on June 19, states that after the sermon was made, Holyfield was removed from his "coveted assignment in Community Relations" and placed back in patrol by defendant James Craig, Captain of the LAPD, "without any due process and in violation of the plaintiff's First Amendment rights."

Defendant Chief Charlie Beck has also been named in the suit because he acted "on his religious biases and initiated a formal complaint against Holyfield."

Holyfield claims that Beck's decision was "flawed" because he spoke as a minister, not an officer for the LAPD, which was evident from the fact that he was in church outside the city and was dressed "in civilian clothes and on vacation" when he made the statements.

Holyfield was later denied the Detective II position, which he believes was due to religious discrimination, a practice the pastor says the LAPD has engaged in the past. Holyfield also said the LAPD "continues to discriminate against officers that cite from the Holy Bible."

The lawsuit calls for the remedy of lost wages, punitive damages and compensatory damages, including mental and emotional distress.

See copy of lawsuit:

http://www.alliancealert.org/2008/20080703.pdf

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