Frisco police department

woos gays in recruiting drive

• Los Angeles Times

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SAN FRANCISCO "YOU," commands the bold black headline on a bright green leafletYes, you could be a San Francisco police officer."

The police department is seeking qualified applicants and, the leaflets adds significantly, "candidates will be considered without regard to sexual orientation."

More than 18,000 such notices have been distributed in bars, restaurants and other meeting places of San Francisco's large homosexual community in what authorities say is the nation's first officially sanctioned and encouraged gay police recruiting drive.

In just a few weeks, the privately funded campaign has attracted more than 350 avowed homosexuals. As a result, homosexuals are expected to fill a substantial number of the 600 or so openings that will emerge in the department within two years. As that occurs, San Francisco's police force, needless to say, will be one of a kind.

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"Every police department in the United States, except this one, by one means or another basically refuses to hire gay people and will fire them if they are detected," said Les Morgan, a former sheriff's department official who is directing the homosexual recruiting drive. "Most gay people think they're not even eligible to be police officers and in most places, as a practical matter, they're not.”

The recruiting program is being conducted without visible opposition here.

"There's some resentment among officers over the question of morality, but it's not especially divisive," said Robert Barry, president of the 1,400-member San Francisco Police Officer Association. "We've got no problem with. homosexuals coming on the force, as long as they're qualified."

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"The success of the gay police recruitment program indicates very much the considerable political strength of the gay community both economically and in voting power," said Sylvie Jacobson, director of the city's Civil Service recruitment unit. "Gays own a lot of property and run a lot of businesses in this town and they also represent a very strong voting bloc potential."

Police Chief Charles Gain, among several officials attnding a "Police vs. Gays" softball game to promote the recruitment drive, endorsed the campaign to bring homosexuals on the force.

"We want the department to be a reflection of the community," Gain said. "Obviously, San Francisco has a substantial gay population.... Any chief of police in the United States who isn't conscious of the need to have his force be a reflection of the community is living in a different world. Thank 'God, San Francisco is an enlightened city. It's a fact of life here."

Earlier this year, civil service officials eliminated from police application forms any references to selective service classifications. Thus, persons who had been classified 1-Y or 4F for being homosexuals are no longer automatically barred from the police department. Meanwhile, the homosexual police recruiting program, called "Gay Outreach," was set into motion. That program is operated with private funds and is being conducted separately from a minorities and women recruitment program that the police have initiated in settlement of an

employment discrimination case here.

Morgan, once an aide to former Sheriff (and Cleveland Police Chief) Richard Hongisto,said the Gay Outreach program has brought responses from more than 350 persons. He speculated that perhaps at least that many people have contacted the police or civil service departments directly, without contacting Gay Outreach.

Of the initial group that responded to the recruiting program, 14% were lesbians. Homosexuals from 11 states outside California also made inquiries but were advised that police positions were open only to residents of San Francisco.

Morgan stressed that his organization is not seeking hiring quotas for homosexuals on the police force, nor does it envision special treatment or classification for policemen because they are homosexual.