An attorney for Long Beach, California won't appeal a judge's ruling that police unfairly targeted gay men in a series of sting operations.
City prosecutor Douglas Haubert announced Wednesday he was dropping the case after judge Halim Dhanidia ruled in late April that officers "intentially targeted men who engaged in homosexual sex" when arresting residents on charges of lewd and indecent behavior.
"The city of Long Beach and the Long Beach Police Department have worked hard to build a positive relationship with the LGBTQ community, a relationship built over many years and based on mutual respect and open dialogue," Haubert said. "I do not think this ruling will or should hinder that relationship."
LGBT advocacy groups were shocked to learn sting operations are still taking place at all, especially in a town like Long Beach, whose mayor, Robert Garcia, is openly gay.
Dhanidina made his decision after hearing from Rory Moroney, a 50-year-old gay man who was arrested in 2014 for engaging in sexual activity in a public restroom.
Moroney said in a statement he had not entered the bathroom to have sex, but had instead been seduced by an undercover cop.
