Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 16, 2006 10:48:36 GMT -5
02/15/2006 - A New Jersey police officer who works as a stand-up comedian in his spare time has been suspended and may be fired for telling outrageous jokes about bestiality and child abuse, his attorney said on Tuesday.
Attorney Paul Bergrin said his client John Feder had been a police officer in West Orange, New Jersey, for more than 20 years and was assigned to the internal affairs department.
Bergrin said Feder had for years collaborated with comedian Andrew Dice Clay, known for his brand of highly profane humour including sexist jibes and racist jokes as well as graphic sexual language. Feder's superiors knew about his comedy act and granted him a leave of absence on one occasion, he said.
After a recent performance in New York, a recording of Feder's act was sent to the police department, prompting him to be suspended without pay around two weeks ago. A disciplinary hearing is set for February 23 and Feder faces dismissal.
The New York Times said the comedy routine in the recording included jokes about raping a bride at knifepoint, having sex with a dog and sexually molesting his own 5-year-old son.
"They're saying the jokes that he does ... are morally reprehensible and offensive," Bergrin told Reuters.
Asked for comment, Police Chief James Abbott referred Reuters to the department's code of conduct which says: "All employees are to display good ethical character in on- and off-duty contexts and shall conduct their professional and private lives in a manner to avoid bringing this agency disrepute."
"There's case law throughout the United States for police officers that protects their freedom of speech," Bergrin said.
Attorney Paul Bergrin said his client John Feder had been a police officer in West Orange, New Jersey, for more than 20 years and was assigned to the internal affairs department.
Bergrin said Feder had for years collaborated with comedian Andrew Dice Clay, known for his brand of highly profane humour including sexist jibes and racist jokes as well as graphic sexual language. Feder's superiors knew about his comedy act and granted him a leave of absence on one occasion, he said.
After a recent performance in New York, a recording of Feder's act was sent to the police department, prompting him to be suspended without pay around two weeks ago. A disciplinary hearing is set for February 23 and Feder faces dismissal.
The New York Times said the comedy routine in the recording included jokes about raping a bride at knifepoint, having sex with a dog and sexually molesting his own 5-year-old son.
"They're saying the jokes that he does ... are morally reprehensible and offensive," Bergrin told Reuters.
Asked for comment, Police Chief James Abbott referred Reuters to the department's code of conduct which says: "All employees are to display good ethical character in on- and off-duty contexts and shall conduct their professional and private lives in a manner to avoid bringing this agency disrepute."
"There's case law throughout the United States for police officers that protects their freedom of speech," Bergrin said.