Gays targeted for attack?

Some in Mainstrasse concerned over crime, police

By Scott Wartman • swartman@nky.com • July 31, 2010

COVINGTON - Some residents from the MainStrasse and Seminary Square neighborhoods last week approached city leaders and police about concerns over recent crime and run-ins with police.

In a meeting this week between 10 residents and city officials, several in the audience felt recent assaults were motivated by anti-homosexual sentiments.

A couple of residents in Seminary Square said they believe they were unfairly targeted by some police officers because of being gay.

At the meeting in MainStrasse on Thursday, Assistant Police Spike Jones, commissioners Shawn Masters and Sherry Carran, City Manager Larry Klein and City Solicitor Frank Warnock listened to concerns.

Jones assured the residents the police will address their concerns and possibly add more training for new police officers.

An attack on a MainStrasse resident the evening of July 21 precipitated the meeting with police this week, said Ron Padgett, who lives in MainStrasse and owns a design and décor business and a wedding planning business in MainStrasse. Padgett and others said most of their interactions with police and people in the neighborhood are positive, but some recent events have caused concern.

"All of us love Covington, which is why we cared to have this forum," Padgett said. "We want to know what can we do to make the streets safer."

Josh Jehn said at least two assailants punched him multiple times when he walked home on Bakewell Street at 11:30 p.m. July 21. Jehn suffered two black eyes and bruised ribs. They didn't take any money and ran off before he could identify them, Jehn said. He doesn't know why he was attacked.

"I shouldn't have to worry about my safety," Jehn said. "Last couple years, I don't know if it gang related or if it's gay related. I don't know what the problem is. I don't care. It really angers me I couldn't walk a block without getting beat up."

Masters said he has talked with Congressman Geoff Davis to encourage the federal government to have a clearer definition of what constitutes a hate crime. He said his friend and campaign manager was attacked at a bar because he was gay, but that nothing in the law could define that as a hate crime.

"Obviously there are incidents where people are targeting gays and lesbians, but we need to get beyond that," Masters said. "Whether it is gay, lesbian, black or white crime, we have to deal with it. What can we do to eradicate this behavior?"

Residents asked for better lighting on Bakewell Street. They also asked for more bike patrols to ramp up police presence.

The 701 Bar, which has a gay clientele, in MainStrasse fell victim to vandalism by some children, said Michael Hess, who is in the process of buying the bar. Recent car break-ins in the area also concern him.

"I'd like to see more bike patrols at night and a better rapport with the officers," Hess said. "That would get the crime rate down."

Seminary Square residents Curtis Thomas and Roderick Willis said they believe police overstepped their bounds in January when two of their friends were arrested. Thomas has written the police and city officials to investigate why police came into his house on Jan. 20.

He said he and three other friends were at his home watching police make a traffic stop on his street at 2 a.m. when he accidentally stepped on a small lantern. Thomas said police heard the crash and approached them. Thomas and Willis said police ran into his house, manhandled him to get one of his friend's IDs and arrested two of his friends without telling them why.

Thomas said one of the officers referred to the house as a "gay house."

"They were rookies who were just not trained," Willis said. "These are kids that wanted to make something happen."

The Jan. 20 incident is under investigation, Jones said. Covington Police have been considering adding training to teach officers how to better communicate with the public and resolve conflict, Jones said.

Jones said he expects a decision in the next week whether to add this training, known as "emotional intelligence" training, to the regimen for new officers.

"Some training we've been discussing with shift commanders may augment our ability to network and connect with the community," Jones said. "We are optimistic some of these initiatives will give our officers a leg up."

Masters said he expects the police to present a proposal before the city commission to address the resident's concerns.

"The last thing we need is for this to drag on," Masters said. "I'm hopeful they will expedite this and bring back a recommendation."

Michael ConnettGays targeted for attack!? Hhmm... Maybe we've asked for it?
I said from the start, when it was passed in '04, that Covington's Human Rights Ordinance was nothing but a token gesture and a pre-emptive, preventative economical measure against what was happening in Cincy at the time. Basically, it ain't worth the fancy parchment it was written on!

South Bank HIVe.net

**315 W. 7th Street - Suite #2 * Covington, Kentucky 41011-1391**

859-261-HIVe1 (4481) * SoBankHIVe@zoomtown.com

Gays targeted for attack?

Some in Mainstrasse concerned over crime, police

Michael Wallace Connett

The HIVe @ Seminary Square

Covington, Ky. 41011