Earlier today, the Fort Worth Police Department sent out the following press release in response to Saturday night's raid on the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth. In short, the FWPD's temporarily breaking up with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission till both agencies figure out how the raid on the newly opened gay bar got so out of hand so quickly, resulting in the hospitalization of Chad Gibson:
Fort Worth Police Department Chief of Police, Jeffrey W. Halstead, has suspended all operations with the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission (TABC) until we gain a better understanding of the events that occurred at the Rainbow Lounge. Furthermore, Chief Halstead desires to learn about the historical relationship between the TABC and the Fort Worth Police Department.Moments ago, TABC sent out its own response, which reads, in full:
In the coming weeks, Chief Halstead will conduct meetings with TABC officials in an effort to establish clearly defined roles and responsibilities of each organization with the intent to better serve the community in conducting inspections. He also extends an invitation to community leaders to meet with him in order to gain their input on how the Fort Worth Police Department can deliver improved service to all who live in, work in, and visit the City of Fort Worth.
As a measure to educate current and future Fort Worth Police officers, the chief will collaborate with the City of Fort Worth Human Resource department to ensure that up to date multiculturalism training will be provided to all police employees, specifically in consideration to the GLBT community.
TABC Administrator Alan Steen supports Chief Halstead in his efforts to determine how best to serve the community. Mr. Steen and Chief Halstead have been in contact with each other this week, and they share the same goals -- to establish the facts surrounding the incident at the Rainbow Lounge, to hold accountable any employees who violated policy or the law, and to determine the best way to serve the people of Texas moving forward.And while we're on the subject of the TABC, Pete's got a follow-up concerning Club Dada's visit from TABC agents last night.
