Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Shocking news out of Monongahela, Washington County, Pennsylvania. A cop admonishing a group of teens for ‘loitering’ dropped the ‘f*gg*t’ word.

The kids recorded the interaction on video and one family released it.

Monongahela says the offier is remorseful, but he’s still cruising the streets.

In what is perhaps the most stilted and ridiculous police statement I’ve seen in awhile Chief Kevin Harris told KDKA

“After multiple conversations with the juveniles throughout the evening, I think he was trying to instill some concern to the individuals that this is a serious issue, not something to take lightly,” Chief Harris said. “He immediately understood that what he said was not of his character and was improper.”

So using a homophobic slur is the way to instill them with respect for property? cops? adult men? Speaking disrespectfully and offensively to these kids was somehow a morality lesson? Gee, Officer Krupke.

But this “He immediately understood that what he said was not of his character and was improper.” WTF? He directed a homophobic slur at teens – kids. This wasn’t in the heat of the moment when he was wrestling some bad actor to the ground to save the day. Even then, not okay. But he lost his cool in one of the most benign tasks of his job.

No LGBTQ+ person on earth would buy this rationalization. People hurl insults because they want to get a reaction, to insult someone. Using the word ‘faggot’ is a universally derisive slur about all LGBTQ+ people. It is intended to demean and diminish us. There are dozens of words he could have used to put those kids in their place, none of which would be appropriate because he was the adult and the authority figure in the situation.

The Monongahela Police Department faces an important ethical decision – do they reprimand this officer in a meaningful and appropriate way or do they deflect and rationalize?

Personally, I don’t think he should lose his job. He should do something meaningful to give back to the LGBTQ+ community in his town and Washington County. Educate himself. Then he should meet with those teens, apologize, and explain what he’s learned about that slur and our community.

Alternatively, the entire department could take a LGBTQ+ cultural competency training.

Neither of those things will happen.

Cops

“Yeah laugh. Wait til you get a $500 fine. See how fucking funny that is. We’re tired of it. Next time … you keep smirking. When you turn 18, I’ll be glad to put you in jail, you faggot.”

These kids were loitering at McDonalds in a rural small city in a rural county. They were probably making a nuisance of themselves, like teens do. They were probably disrespectful of the cop targeting them, like teens are.

The cops language is not remotely acceptable. He sounds like a bombastic Leslie Jordan character. See how I mocked him without using a slur or vulgarities. Threatening to arrest someone in the future for their behavior at 15 is an abuse of his authority. He’s lashing out at these kids, seemingly at a high level of frustration completely out of proportion to their actions.

He was the adult. He was the authority figure. He had the power and weapons. What if he physically confronted these teens? What would have happened? What if one of those kids was the child of immigrants, refugees, or American citizens who aren’t white? Would he have tased them? Pulled his gun? Cuffed them?

If he couldn’t control himself verbally, where is the evidence that he would be effective in a more loaded situation?

I’m also curious who “we” is in the phrase “We’re tired of it”? The Monongahela cops? Or perhaps a more universal ‘we’ who feel disrespected and take umbrage at any audacity?

Washington County elected/reelected a slew of Republicans including some extremists. In 2024, Trump received over 60% of the vote.

The police won’t identify him. But they are public servants and employees so their names are listed on the City website.

The City of Monongahela Police Department Roster lists 11 sworn police officers and one meter enforcement officer on its official staff directory. This doesn’t include PT officers. This seems to be as of 2024, but it is a start.

Command & Supervisory Staff

• Chief of Police. Kevin Harris
• Lieutenant. Ryan Lenzi
• Sergeants. Roderic Henson, Stephen Kenyon, and Thomas McCarthy

Patrol & Enforcement Officers

• Patrol Officers. William Fusco, Spencer Allen, Daniel Jae, Michael Parry, and Tyler Pape
• Meter Enforcement Officer. Robert Yohe

Someone knows who this guy is. Why should his identity be protected? His behavior was abominable. Where’s his apology and regret?

It’s behind the thin blue line.

While Mon City does not have a formal agreement with ICE/DHS, neighboring communities do. Additionally, the Washington County Sheriff and the Washington County Jail have formal agreements with ICE.

Krup you.