Town Protests Firing of Gay Police Chief

A South Carolina town is up in arms after its police chief, Crystal Moore, was fired this month by a mayor who has been caught on tape making anti-gay comments. Moore, who identifies as lesbian, was the town of Latta’s first female officer and has a sterling 23-year record on the force, but mayor Earl Bullard handed her a list of seven reprimands this month including allegedly questioning authority and failing to maintain order at a council meeting. What Bullard didn’t count on, however, was residents rushing the Town Hall only hours after Moore was fired, demanding her reinstatement. The Town Council, which gave Moore a 6-0 vote of confidence, has set a referendum vote for next month to strip the mayor of his firing authority.