Chicago, IL
Four federal lawsuits were filed against a Chicago Police officer accused of targeting gay and lesbian drivers by falsifying DUI charges and other traffic violations, using excessive force and engaging in harassment of the arrested victims.
The suits also claim that Chicago police officer Richard Fiorito allegedly contrived the DUI charges against gays and lesbians to profit from overtime pay for court appearances and that other officers in Fiorito's district suspected the validity of the arrests.
Fiorito, 60, who is assigned to the 23rd District Town Hall police station at Addison and Halsted in the heart of "Boystown", was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for making 313 DUI arrests in 2007 and early 2008.
The suits also claim that other officers in the district accused Fiorito of wanting more overtime, claiming it as the reason for Fiorito's issuance of numerous DUI tickets.
The suits ask for an undetermined amount of damages.
Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network, told CBS 2 Chicago, "This guy was operating in the heart of the gay entertainment district for years acting on his anti-gay animus and no one in an official [capacity] was calling him out on it."
No departmental action has currently been taken against Fiorito. Officials at the Independent Police Review Authority said complaints are under investigation
Three other people filed lawsuits earlier in February.
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-harassment-lawsui,0,1763987.story
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