California: Stockton Police Lieutenant Pens Anti-Gay Marriage Letter

Stockton Police Lt. Toby Will

A Stockton police lieutenant’s 282 word letter to the editor of the Stockton Record contains not only strong anti-homosexual language, but upon his insistence his title and rank with the police department.

The letter is causing controversy in the California city.

Lt.Toby Will, a former Marine and 25-year veteran of the Stockton Police Department, wrote a 282-word letter to the editor of the Stockton Record which was published in Wednesday's edition under the heading "Marriage ruling shuns God."

The letter claims those who live according to "vile and sinful passions" will be met with the wrath of God. "...when the highest office in the land publicly declares the legitimizing of homosexuality to be a great victory for the nation, you can be sure that God is giving that nation over to its own destruction," Will wrote.

Stockton Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, chair of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender caucus, said she was shocked when she read the editorial page Wednesday morning.

"I choked on my coffee," she said in her Capitol office. Eggman, who is in a same-sex marriage, believes the now-public views of a high-ranking police official could bring fear to Stockton's gay community.

"When you need to call 911, you should feel safe that the person who responds is there to support you no matter who you are," Eggman said

I believe in freedom of speech/expression, so the act of writing the letter is what it is. I don't know what the Stockton Police Department's policy is, though, on public statements specifically using your title and rank. We shall see.