Local law enforcement officers learn of federal hate crimes statute and how it is enforced

CLEVELAND - It was a starkly frank speech former Laramie, Wyoming, police chief David O'Malley delivered. He admitted he had once been biased against gays, even to the point of telling gay jokes. He said his philosophies, which he later understood to be wrong, flowed over into how he investigated crimes.

However, O'Malley, who was the chief when Matthew Wayne Shepard was targeted because of his homosexuality and murdered, changed as he worked with gay groups in Wyoming.

O'Malley was one of the speakers at a civil rights conference sponsored by the Northern District of Ohio U.S. Attorney's office. The goal of the conference was to help police officers better investigate hate crimes.

Because of the murder of Shepard in 1998 and the murder of another man who was dragged to his death, federal statues regarding hate crimes were strengthened. O'Malley told the gathering of local law enforcement officers from throughout Northeast Ohio the importance of fully investigating crimes.

He also cautioned against harboring biases toward victims, associates or gictims, or alleged assailants because of their lifestyles, ethnicities or sexual orientations.

"If somebody could cure the hate-teachers, you could make a dent" in the problem, said O'Malley.

He advised the police officers to have sensitivities about people with the realization all people have rights.

Assistant U.S Attorney James Moroney also spoke on hate crimes. 

"Gender, sexual orientation, and disability -- either real or perceived -- can now be the subject of hate crimes prosecution, which is an extremely serious felony charge at this point," he said.

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