US: Utah police officer resigns after objecting to Pride parade assignment
A Utah police officer has resigned from his post, after he was put on leave for allegedly refusing to work at a Pride parade.
The officer’s lawyer Bret Rawson told the Salt Lake Tribune: “My client has made it clear to SLCPD that he is not returning.
“He feels he has been subjected to needless ridicule by the department for merely expressing a desire to work the parade without participating in the parade.
“He was surprised that he was placed on administrative leave — a disciplinary action against him — and he feels this was a violation of his rights.
“It’s a matter of him being ‘constructively terminated’, which is legalese for ‘You made it unreasonable for me to stay, so I’m leaving’.”
A police spokesperson confirmed: “The Salt Lake City Police Department has received a written resignation from the officer under internal investigation related to an assignment at last weekend’s Pride Parade.
“This closes the internal case. In light of pending litigation, no further comment will be provided at this time.”
Rawson said that no decision had been made about litigation.
