Ex-cop who 'saw demon' sues to get gun, badge back

[Christa]

snip

"A police lieutenant who once reported seeing a 'demon' at police headquarters is suing to get his gun and shield back, claiming supervisors took them from him because of his religious practices," the Associated Press reports. "Dominic Maglione, a desk officer at Brooklyn's 90th Precinct, says in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan's state Supreme Court that he is a Christian who worships at two Queens churches and prays and fasts regularly."

The AP adds, "At the hospital, Maglione told a medical professional that he had seen a demon at police headquarters, according to a police board medical report dated Dec. 19, 2008, that was included with Maglione's court papers. The report also says the lieutenant lost 40 pounds in six months by fasting, and urinated on himself because he refused to stop praying to go to the bathroom."

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The AP story continues, "The 22-year police veteran says that because of his allegedly 'excessive' religious beliefs, police officials have 'wrongfully and illegally' confiscated his gun and badge and compromised his ability to do his job. Maglione's lawsuit, filed Feb. 19, says that curtailing his duties because of his religious practices violates his First Amendment rights. He asked the court to order his return to full police work."

The New York Daily News provides more details from the medical report.

"He was alarmingly thin, his skin was pale and he was malodorous,' according to a March 2008 Police Pension Fund report, which said he once saw a demon at Police Headquarters," Jose Martinez writes for the New York City tabloid. "The report also says he acted 'godlike' and lost 20 pounds in a few weeks as result of nonstop 'contact with God,' and says Maglione suffers from bipolar disorder, hyperreligiosity and obsessive-compulsive disorder."

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http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Excop_who_saw_demon_sues_to_0303.html

I see a disaster waiting to happen.

[havocmom]

1. don't police departments have standards and requirements for psych profiles for officers?

Since they would be liable for officers' on-duty behavior and performance, it seems to follow there have to be boundaries and standards for the psychological functioning of department employees.

The irregular religious right needs to have some lessons on reality and job requirements. If your religion is in conflict with NORMAL STANDARDS and job duties, time for a career change.

I swear these gangs of modern day Puritans are out to lower the bar in all professions and inflict THEIR religious beliefs on the whole country. Didn't they have a civil war about this in England?

[Tansy_Gold]

2. My understanding of the first amendment and the whole separation

of church and state issue was that the government couldn't force you to practice any specific religion, but by the same token, your religion had no right to interfere with your work.

Job requires you to work on your Sabbath and your religion forbids it? Then you don't get the job. If you can't/won't perform the required elements of the job, too bad.

That's what the whole separation of church and state means: The state does not recognize religion as a valid excuse to get out of following the laws.

No one is saying he can't practice his religion, but if the practice of his religion negatively affects the performance of his job, too fucking bad.

Now, I'm not a constitutional lawyer, but that's how I read it.

Tansy Gold

[havocmom]

3. Thanks, TG. Thinking departments are legally responsible for mental states of employees with guns

And they really do have a legitimate need for psych exams/profiles with standards. Can't let your local police department take on a huge liability with someone who may start shooting at demons disguised at innocent citizens of any particular sort.

[flobee1]

4. because of his allegedly 'excessive' religious beliefs?

No, I think its because you pee on yourself so you dont have to stop praying!
This man needs a shrink, not a gun

[LeftinOH]

5. Just wait 'til he shoots and kills someone he thinks is a "demon"....n/t

[Stevenmarc]

6. He's going to have a hard time proving

that his job was compromised by having his gun and badge taken away when he was spending all his time praying and peeing on himself.