Ex-Wake deputies say sheriff fired them for reporting officer’s remarks about gay people
Two Wake County deputies say newly elected Sheriff Gerald Baker fired them last month in retaliation for expressing concern about a fellow officer’s comments about gay people.
That officer was promoted soon after Baker was sworn in, WRAL reported.
Former Master Deputies Gray Speight and Steven Williamson say they were fired three days before Christmas for reporting then Lt. Teddy Patrick’s comments during sensitivity training two years ago.
Speight and Williamson alleged Patrick said he would not enter a house if a man was wearing a dress and that he also outed a fellow deputy who was gay, WRAL reported.
WRAL also obtained Sheriff’s Office documents that said Patrick told an Asian employee she must be good with chopsticks.
Former Sheriff Donnie Harrison demoted Patrick from lieutenant to senior investigator. Patrick then filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which upheld the Sheriff’s Office and denied his claim, WRAL reported.
In a statement to The News & Observer released through his legal adviser, Baker said Patrick was promoted after a review of his employment record.
“The training sessions you refer to resulted in action being taken by the former administration. Captain Patrick was promoted to his present position after a thorough review of his work history, including the training session comments and their context and purpose,” the statement said.
“Personnel changes, whether they are reassignments, demotions or terminations, can be difficult,” the statement continued. “The changes that have been made, and will continue to be made, will be done to provide a fair and inclusive environment for all employees of this office.”
Frank Sancineto, president of the Wake County Fraternal Order of the Police, issued a statement late Tuesday afternoon, saying the organization does not “condone or support discrimination of any kind.”
“Former Master Deputies Gray Speight and Steven Williamson are clearly being punished as ‘whistleblowers’ which is cognizable before a federal court,” Sancineto wrote in the statement emailed to The News & Observer.
Baker, in addition to causing “irreparable harm” to the fired deputies, “has created a hostile work environment where officers will fear reprisal for speaking out and identifying wrong doing,” Sancineto wrote. “This is contrary to our oath we have all sworn to uphold the law and do what is right.”
This story was originally published January 15, 2019 at 3:10 PM.
