Police Sergeant Accused of Bullying, Abusing Authority Against Ministry Volunteers

by Allie Martin and Jody Brown
June 8, 2006

(AgapePress) - - A Florida-based ministry says it plans to file a grievance with a local police department after officers interfered with a petition drive to protect traditional marriage.

Last weekend representatives of the Florida Family Policy Council were collecting petitions for the Florida4Marriage campaign at a Promise Keepers event in Broward County. Witnesses say several members of the City of Sunrise Police Department showed up and ordered a halt to the petition drive, then removed the petitions from public view. The petitions were eventually returned to the Council's exhibit table -- but only after what a group spokesman describes as "unprofessional" and "unconstitutional" behavior by a member of the police force. (See earlier story)

John Stemberger, president and general counsel of the Council, says upon his arrival at the scene, he was refused an explanation of what law or ordinance had been violated -- but was instead subjected to "ranting" from the duty officer, Sergeant Stephen Allen, who insisted on "lecturing" him and Council volunteers on Christ's teaching on homosexuality.

"I told him I did not want to discuss theology but wanted to know the legal authority he was relying upon," Stemberger notes in a letter to Lt. Robert Dorn of the Sunrise Police Department. "Sgt. Allen refused to calmly discuss the supposed law that was being violated and then proclaimed that 'he was the authority' and 'the Bible says that Christians should obey the authorities.'"

The letter goes on to explain that Allen accused Stemberger of lying about his being a constitutional attorney, and referred to him as an "ambulance chaser" when provided with Stemberger's business card.

Sgt. Stephen Allen, with petitions in hand, kisses fellow officer on the cheek

According to Stemberger, Allen made no effort to hide his views on the subject of same-sex "marriage." He says "at one point the officer went and kissed another male officer, just to mock the volunteers. After they removed all petitions, he just kissed the officer. We actually have a photograph of that and some other photographs of these officers' behavior."

Stemberger describes his interaction with Sergeant Allen as "the most unprofessional ... odious interchange" he has ever had with a law enforcement officer.

"At all times during my encounter with Sgt. Allen he constantly interrupted me, refused to allow me to speak freely, consistently acted unreasonably [and] unprofessionally," writes the Council spokesman. In addition, says Stemberger, the police sergeant refused to allow him to explain why the officer's actions were unconstitutional and why Council volunteers had the legal right to distribute petitions at the event.

The 45-minute ordeal ended, says Stemberger, only after a civic center official instructed Sergeant Allen to "stand down."

In his letter to the Sunrise Police Department, Stemberger requests the department investigate the matter, and either dismiss Sergeant Allen from the local force or discipline him and others as warranted, perhaps requiring they undergo sensitivity training or other instruction on professionalism.

A spokesman with the Sunrise Police Department could not be reached for comment.