 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Police ban workplace holiday displays
By LEANORA MINAI © St. Petersburg Times, published November 10, 2000 ST. PETERSBURG -- The Grinch has swooped down and stolen Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah from the St. Petersburg Police Department. Employees have been directed to eliminate all workplace holiday displays, decorations and celebrations. That means no Christmas trees, figures of Santa Claus or any item with a "religious holiday connotation," Assistant Chief Lois Worlds said in a memo Wednesday to department heads. "We have sweaters we all wear the week of Christmas," said a disappointed and confused records clerk, Bonnie Henderson. The new rules, which came as a surprise to the city administrator and chief assistant city attorney, are isolated to the Police Department. And the mandate has sparked a firestorm. Officers and employees are asking: If a Christmas tree can go up in the city's Straub Park, why can't a tree stand in the lobby of the station? "Grinches. Grinches. Nasty Grinches," groused Officer Gabriele Ritzheimer from the steps of the police station. After all, the city's Fire Department and the offices of the mayor and City Council will put up Christmas trees. "We have a Christmas party every year that I personally pay for," Fire Chief Jim Callahan said. Police Chief Goliath Davis III, a Christian, pointed Thursday to maintaining a wall between church and state. He does not want to violate the Constitution's ban on government endorsement of religion. "As police chief, I want to make sure we're sensitive to everybody's religious beliefs so we don't offend anybody," Davis said. Davis said common work areas are targeted. Places like the lobby, hall and elevator, not necessarily someone's desk. But what about work cubicles near common spaces? "If those things come up, we have to look at them on an individual basis," Davis said. There is more at play, said Diane Bailey, a St. Petersburg lawyer. Bailey represents Sgt. Greg Totz, a 25-year St. Petersburg officer. He filed a religious discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in mid October. Totz is Jewish and has complained in the past about overt displays of Christianity in the department. Bailey said that because of his complaint, the administration has taken separation of church and state too far. "I think it's a form of retaliation," she said. "Now they've taken it to an extreme, which will obviously cause employees to be angry at him and possibly ostracize him." Davis did not say exactly what sparked this sudden change after three years as police chief. "Every year in my reign as chief I make improvements to the organization, and when I see issues that pop up, I take care of them," Davis said. Worlds, the assistant chief who wrote the memo, did not return two telephone calls Thursday seeking comment. A clutch of employees in the records division -- all Christians -- had plenty to say during a 15-minute work break Thursday. They want clarification on the memo. "How far does it go?" asked Tanya Flowers, a records clerk. Bill Wilson, manager of the records division, said morale in his unit -- the office that greets the public -- is low. He has shelved plans to erect a tree in the newly renovated lobby. "I'm not mad, but I'm hurt," said clerk Darlene Forinton. Americans United for Separation of Church and State commended Davis for his sensitivity, but it had some questions. The non-partisan organization is a 53-year-old Washington, D.C.-based group that works to protect separation of church and state. Spokesman Steve Benen said government agencies can prohibit religious displays such as nativity scenes in public places. In some states, creches and crosses have been removed from downtown Christmas and Easter displays. But trees and Santa Claus are different. "Christmas trees have never been considered religious symbols, and that's why a lot of government agencies do display them," Benen said. "That's why there's one at the White House." - Times researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times South Pinellas desks |
