(UnitedReader.com) – Police officers are people just like anyone else. They have lives, needs, desires and opinions, which is their right. No one has to agree with what anyone does on their own time, not even police officers. Even so, one cop received a suspension after witnesses saw him praying off-duty.
Law enforcement is a dangerous career, so it’s no surprise that many officers turn to a higher power for guidance and protection. Early last year, a law enforcement officer (LEO) of 13 years, Matthew Schrenger, was praying outside of the EMW Women’s Surgical Center in Louisville, Kentucky’s only abortion clinic, with his dad. The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), where he worked, suspended him. In response, Schrenger sued the department and recently won financial compensation.
Louisville to pay $75,000 to cop suspended for off-duty prayer outside abortion clinic https://t.co/ImrP8Kg5GH
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 28, 2022
LMPD Police Chief Erika Shields handed the 13-year veteran a four-month paid suspension for praying in uniform two hours prior to the beginning of his shift. Given Officer Schrenger wasn’t on duty, his legal team claims the suspension was in violation of his rights. LMPD Chief Shields eventually reinstated Schrenger and cleared him of all charges in June 2021. By then, the damage was already done.
The LEO’s legal defense pointed to other officers in the department that participated in gay rights and Black Lives Matter protests, in uniform, but never received suspensions or punishments of any kind. Ultimately, the court ruled in favor of Schrenger, and the LMPD owes him a nice $75,000 check.
Situations like this just go to show how biased establishments can be.
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