Mikey V Beyond The Headlines Part 3

After this defeat, Detective Verdugo, convinced that this was an injustice continued to pursue the matter with the state of Flordia. Finally, on August 12, 2010 The Florida Department of Law Enforcement ruled in Detective Verdugo’s favor and allowed him to keep his police certificate. Even though he won his right to keep his police certificate in the state of Florida, this ruling puts in conflict the initial grounds of his termination. Detective Verdugo, still has to appeal to the Hollywood Police Department to get his old job back.

Regardless, of anyone’s opinion of Mikey V’s participation in the “soft core” gay porn, it’s clear to any outside observer that this was just the “reason” that the Hollywood Police Department needed to get rid of a troublemaker. Someone who had the courage to stand up for his rights. Mikey V’s abuse and harassment happened before he was a reality star, his fame, unfortunately, was probably what gave his superiors the ammunition they needed to finally get rid of him.

Now that the state of Florida has reinstated his police certificate, he’s qualified to be a police officer anywhere in the state. So why doesn’t he just move to a friendlier police department? Why is he still pursuing his old job with the Hollywood Police Department? Detective Verdugo says, “I spent nine years with that department. I was a good cop, and my problem was never with other officers just my superiors. One more year and I would have tenure.”
When asked why he pursued this long and difficult road to get his police certificate back, in light of the fact that he’s a famous interior designer with a successful design company he runs on the side, “Being a cop is who I am. I can do both successfully, but ultimately, my identity is that of a cop.”

Detective Verdugo’s fight for his rights as a gay cop are a lesson for all of us. Even in the face of harassment, humiliation, and numerous legal appeals which directly questioned his right to be treated as an equal human being, he fought for justice. He never gave up. Beyond the scandal, and the headlines, he’s a true hero, and paved the way for a more fair and equal world for all of us.

By: Bryan Pierce

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