Police owe apology to outed airman, ACLU says - Air Force News, news from Iraq - Air Force Times

Police owe apology to outed airman, ACLU says

The American Civil Liberties Union has launched a public campaign to force the Rapid City police department to apologize for the outing of a lesbian Air Force staff sergeant.

Robert Doody, executive director of ACLU South Dakota, said he’s not satisfied with the police department’s response to a complaint filed last month on behalf of Jene Newsome. So, the ALCU is asking people to send letters to Rapid City officials seeking an apology from the department and other corrective measures.

“We know that a lawsuit isn’t just enough here,” Doody said Thursday. “We want to change hearts and minds.”

Newsome’s honorable discharge under “don’t ask, don’t tell” came after police officers saw an Iowa marriage certificate in her home and told officials at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The ACLU complaint claims the officers violated Newsome’s privacy when they informed the military about her sexual orientation.

Doody said the police department has not issued a formal response to the complaint, but has indicated no action would be taken.

Police chief Steve Allender has told AP his officers acted appropriately and have not been placed on administrative leave. He said Thursday he didn’t have further comment.

The ACLU has started a Facebook group called “Justice for Jene!” in support of the 28-year-old Newsome. It provides a form letter addressed to the Rapid City mayor and City Council members calling for the department to apologize to Newsome, reprimand the officers involved in her outing, adopt a policy stating it will no longer seek to out military members and compensate Newsome for the loss of her military career.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Facebook group had more than 2,250 members.

A message left Thursday for Rapid City Mayor Alan Hanks was not immediately returned. A secretary said city council members also were not in their offices Thursday afternoon.

The Rapid City Police Department has said Newsome, an aircraft armament system craftsman who spent nine years in the Air Force, was not cooperative when officers showed up at her home in November with an arrest warrant for her wife, who was wanted on theft charges in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Police officers spotted the marriage license on the kitchen table through a window of Newsome’s home and alerted the base, Allender has told AP. The license was relevant to the investigation because it showed both the relationship and residency of the two women, he said.

He said his department does not seek to expose gay military personnel or investigate the sexuality of Rapid City residents.

Doody also said Thursday that Newsome and the ACLU were considering suing the department.

Newsome’s discharge has highlighted concerns over the ability of third parties to out service members, especially as the Pentagon has started reviewing “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Newsome has since moved to the Fairbanks, Alaska, area.

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