Okay, okay. So Police Chief Tim Kelemen (pictured) did a bad thing, but we kinda love him for it.
Blond-haired, blue-eyed Kelemen works for the Town of Campbell’s Police Department in Wisconsin. Last Friday, he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of “unlawful use of a computerized communication system.” The officer admitted to signing up Greg Luce, a local Tea Party leader, on naughty gay websites in retaliation to a long-standing feud.
The drama started last fall when Luce and his Tea Party cronies began holding protests on an interstate overpass in Campbell. Concerned the demonstrations were distracting drivers, Kelemen met with the town board to create an ordinance that banned signs on the bridge.
In response, Luce urged fellow Tea Partiers from across the country to bombard Kelemen’s department with harassing phone calls and threats. According to reports, the department received as many as 300 to 400 prank calls a day.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Annoyed that his phone was ringing off the hook, Kelemen got back at Luce by using the man’s name, address, phone number, and email address to create accounts on gay dating, pornography, and federal health care websites. He told investigators that he didn’t think what we was doing “was a big deal.”
As a result, Kelemen has been put on temporary paid leave. The terms of his plea deal say that the charges could be dropped in two years if he commits no further crimes and completes counseling as well as 40 hours of community service.
On Friday, Luce told Judge David Rice that the officer is getting away with a “slap on the wrist” and that he believes Kelemen has suffered a psychological breakdown “and should never be allowed to carry a badge and a gun again!”
Hold up. Is a Tea Partier really advocating that someone be stripped of their Second Amendment rights?
He sure is! But it gets better.
Luce also filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging the sign ordinance violates his free speech rights and is demanding damages from Kelemen for stealing his identity.
The moral of the story? We’re not sure there is one. Other than Tea Partiers are crazy and we think we might have a crush on Officer Keleman.
dmcb2
How is this a cute thing?? The best payback he could come up with was to make the tea party leader seem homosexual? So thats an insult??
Andreusz
Kelemen is cute.
Therefore anything he does, no matter how ill-mannered, is cute.
QED.
Dakotahgeo
Good on Officer Kelemen!!! LOLOL. All Tea Partier jerks should be thankful they’re even tolerated in a just society. And they’re fun entertainment to watch. Actually they all need to get a hobby!
Dakotahgeo
@dmcb2: LOLOL… for a Tea Partier it sure is. They’re lucky they’re even tolerated on our streets!
BJ McFrisky
The best “revenge” this cop could think of was to portray the man as gay? And this is a good thing? Is Queerty so embedded in the liberal universe that it condones using homosexuality as a slur when it comes to political differences? Unbe-fucking-lievable.
Queerty: Free of an agenda . . . except that hardcore liberal one.
@Dakotahgeo: I can’t think of a single specific instance in which a Tea Party person made an untoward comment about us. Can you? Or are you just giddy with hatred toward whomever MSNBC tells you?
Dakotahgeo
@BJ McFrisky: Just stick to your self-employment that you first two initials imply and you’ll do just fine. My comment stands, conservative no-mind.
NG22
@BJ McFrisky: Dude, Michele Bachman is in the Tea Party Caucus in the House of Representatives. She thinks all gays are predators. And BTW, I can’t think of a single politician affiliated with the Tea Party who supports gay rights. Honestly. Sarah Palin doesn’t support gay rights, which is an understatement. Not even libertarians like Rand Paul support gay rights.
Look, you can support whomever you want to support, but you’re naive and delusional if you think any of the politicians you support would support you if they knew you came to websites like this.
Dakotahgeo
@NG22: Gotta AMEN your comment. BJ Mac would be out on his ear for such ‘clandestine’ activities!
BJ McFrisky
@Dakotahgeo: Since your only response to the questions is childish name-calling, I gather that would be a “no” to whether or not you can think of a single example in which a Tea Partier has made homophobic comments (and you won’t, because the Tea Party isn’t about social politics, only fiscal), and that would be “yes” regarding your giddy hatred.
There’s nothing quite as sweet as the blatant cluelessness of a sycophantic liberal bashing something they know nothing about. Thanks for making my day.
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
And what a shock, BJ rushes to the defense of the anti-gay person.
As for the Tea Partier, why wasn’t he charged with the harrassment of a law enforcement official.
BJ McFrisky
@NG22: a) Michele Bachmann is an idiot with personal religious prejudices, and
b) The Tea Party caucus has no agenda on gay rights, regardless of what Rachel Maddow may suggest. Look it up.
Also, I’ve said it before: I’m not a conservative, but I know some, and conservatives are 20 times more likely to forgive my being gay than gays will forgive me for not being a liberal. Them’s the facts, like ’em or not.
BJ McFrisky
@Cam: So you agree that it’s an insult to be thought a homosexual, as this cop did?
pressuredrop
The Tea Party still exists?
I thought the moderate conservatives and goofy libertarians had assassinated them to further their own agendas.
Blackceo
@Andreusz: Co-sign!!!
lykeitiz
@BJ McFrisky: First of all, the cop didn’t necessarily think that being gay was an insult, but he certainly thought that the tea-partier would……..and look! He was right.
Secondly, even if the Tea caucus has no official position on gay rights, as you CLAIM, their leaders certainly do. Their two biggest figureheads (Bachmann & Palin) have made their anti-gay stances well known. You may as well be saying that all Klan members aren’t bigots.
MCHG
I think the left, as gay rights expands, are going to have to answer for their own homophobia. We act like being gay is just as normal as having blue eyes, or dark hair, etc. So why with all the gay baiting? This wholy unprofessional cop who should absolutely should lose his job, didn’t think of calling the man a tea bagger, an idiot, etc. The first thing that change to mind was make this tea party guy look gay. For one, it completely nulls the outing campaigns. Next time a conservative gets people questioning his sexuality, he can just reference the time whena Fucking police officer went out of his way to make Astraight republican look gay. Two, it’s completely homophobic. The guy couldn’t think of a more damming thing than making the tea partier appear to be gay. That’s the worst possible thing he could think of.
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
BJ, if you are going to try to lie about what people say, you should probably wait until their post is a bit further down the line.
How interesting though that you attack the cop and defend the anti-gay Tea Partier.
Can you please remind me when the last time was that you did not defend somebody who was anti-gay on here.
sportyguy1983
You just have to laugh when gay men condone bad behavior by government officials/workers because they are “cute”
BJ McFrisky
@Cam: So you agree that it’s an insult to be thought a homosexual, as this cop did?
GiveMeABreak
@BJ McFrisky:
You’re funny. “Oh, the biggest Tea Party leaders just have their own AGENDA, it has nothing to do with how any of the OTHER Tea Partiers think…” you’re not one for deduction and logic, are you?
The Tea Party has no social agenda at all? You don’t think their rage-filled objections to Obama have anything to do with race and the general social progress that Democratic politicians are bringing to America? Are you that naive? It’s almost precious.
You and a shocking number of other people here aren’t even reading the cop’s motivations correctly. He assumed – rightly, it appears – that the Tea Partier would dislike being signed up for gay porn websites as he’s got a moral objection to homosexuality. Nowhere in this article does it indicate he thought that being gay itself was some kind of insult – your reading comprehension skills are lacking.
As for your charge that a conservative will forgive you for being gay easier than a gay will forgive you for not being as liberal as they are…I only shake my head and laugh at your small-minded attempts to defend your oppressors. Go get some therapy and figure out who your friends are. They’re not Tea Partiers.
Nowuvedoneit
@Cam: Although Bj is usually a right wing nutter he does have one point. The cop thought the best insult he could do to the tea party dude was associate him with gay dudes. That is not a good thing regardless how cute Queerty editors think the homophobic cop is.
BJ McFrisky
@sportyguy1983: It’s also collectively assumed that Congressmen Aaron Schock and Adam Kinzinger are both closet cases because . . . wait for it . . . they’re “hot” Republicans.
It’s what happens when people think with their little head instead of their big one—common sense takes a back seat.
xzall
@BJ McFrisky You must be deaf, dumb and blind when it comes to the Tea Party. Here are just a couple of examples:
Oklahoma Tea Party candidate Scott Esk suggested that stoning gay people to death would be totally the right thing to do.
Tea Party leader Rick Scarborough suggested a class action suit against homosexuality saying that homosexuality leads to AIDS and causes more deaths than cancer.
Michelle Bachmann and everything she ever says.
Let’s add all the states and Tea Party reps who supported anti gay bills in their states and the majority of them run on a platform opposing gay marriage and civil unions.
In conclusion, BJ McFrisky, you’re wrong, which could probably be said about any and all of your posts.
BJ McFrisky
Sorry, Queerty blocked me again because I have an opinion, so I can’t respond.
Roan
Too funny! I’m just surprised he didn’t get a “this email is already in use” error when signing up for the accounts!
Cam
@BJ McFrisky: said…”So you agree that it’s an insult to be thought a homosexual, as this cop did?”
__________________________________________________________
Actually BJ, my comment pointed out that the Tea Partier had not been charged with harassing a law enforcement officer and department, i.e. having to handle 300-400 harassing calls a day to the department restricts their ability to actually help those in need. Interesting that you do not seem concerned over that.
“And what a shock, BJ rushes to the defense of the anti-gay person.
As for the Tea Partier, why wasn’t he charged with the harassment of a law enforcement official”
As far as gay being an insult. Anti-gay bigots certainly think it is, which is why they are continually trying to pass laws against gay rights. Is it an insult to think somebody is Jewish or Arab? No, would it be seen as an insult to a member of the KKK? Of course.
Considering your sympathies lie with the anti-gay bigots I can see why you would misunderstand that though.
Nowuvedoneit
I am not one to worry about what others think of gays or myself so for that matter, but what does anyone know about this “cute” cop other than what Queerty reported as an argument with some Tea Party people? What has the gays on here learned anything about him other than buzzwords Tea Party, harassing phone calls? I don’t like the Tea Party but I don’t think the biggest insult I could do to them is associate them with gay dating websites,being a Tea Party member is all the insult I can think of. Yet here we have a conservative noted right wing commenter BJ, bring up a good point but you’ll all bash on him because grr right wing must not listen?
SeanBear
O.K…..is anyone else uoset that the Tea Party bombarded a police station with hundreds of calls? I think public safety beingendangered is a much worse offense. Of course there is no way to verify who coordinatored this act. I do think it was immature of the police officer to do what he did but who did it endager ? Not an entire towns safety !!
Nowuvedoneit
And another damn thing, this was just not an ordinary police officer this was according to Queerty the chief of police, seeking out petty childish revenge. He got away with just a slap in the wrist because of his position and authority. What the Tea Party people did was wrong but it’s vey disturbing that someone with a lot of power in that community sees fit to get revenge. If this had been some police chief seeking revenge on someone gay or aligned to Queerty’s ideals there would have been calls for his resignation.
What is going on with Queerty and it’s commenters that allow or forgive a person in power to seek revenge on others they don’t like?
odawg
PSA: Don’t feed the troll (BJ McFrisky) and maybe it will go away.
Cam
@SeanBear: said… “O.K…..is anyone else uoset that the Tea Party bombarded a police station with hundreds of calls? I think public safety beingendangered is a much worse offense.”
Absolutely.
_________________________________________
@Nowuvedoneit: said…
“And another damn thing, this was just not an ordinary police officer this was according to Queerty the chief of police, seeking out petty childish revenge. He got away with just a slap in the wrist because of his position and authority.”
_____________
Actually I’m more concerned that after being told that their signs could be causing danger to drivers the Tea Partiers responded by bombarding a police station with harassing and prank phone calls.
SeanBear
The Tea party members had the resources and Lawyers to figure out who was responsible for the subscriptions…and really who would have known of the accounts if Greg Luce had not made it public? It is VERY EASY to block or unsubscribe from online accounts …..and NO ONE needed to know….so who was getting revenge by charging someone with a misdemeanor offense…which is obscure to say the least. That could lead to the Chiefs job loss? I do not care if it was the Tea Party or any other political group. Death threats and intimidation to a police station is much worse. I would consider it a terrorist act. I have problems with any group, liberal or conservative that condones extreme acts (liking risking public safety). In Massachusetts it is illegal to hang anything from an overpass due to accidents and an instance that someone was throwing objects onto a highway while hiding behind a flag. I am not positive but I think New Hampshire has a similar law….or the residents had the common courtesy to take down the flags and signs….when it was found to be a public safety concern
Nowuvedoneit
@SeanBear: Terrorists attack? That’s a bit much, it was uncalled for as was the police officers actions but it was not that big of an issue. Just local trouble for sure.
Cam
@Nowuvedoneit:
No, actually bombarding a police station with hundreds more phone calls than they normally get could cause real emergency calls to be missed.
They only way you could possibly compare that to somebody having a post on an online website as equal is if you are simply trying to defend the Tea Party at any cost. They are two very different things.
Saint Law
@BJ McFrisky: “Sorry, Queerty blocked me again because I have an opinion, so I can’t respond.”
As well. You’re a liar.
Ann Mason
This sensational story is really nothing special. It’s just another example of a juvenile-minded person running a police department. Chief Kelemen thought a good, nasty way to smear a Tea Partier’s reputation was to imply that the man is gay.
Police Chief Kelemen sounds like a nightmare for the city, as well as for his opponents. Does Greg Luce have grounds to sue the city of Campbell now?
There’s only one thing to say to Tim Kelemen and Greg Luce: Ignore each other. Neither one of you is worthy of the attention.
Cam
@Ann Mason:
However please notice one thing.
What the Tea Partier did effected people outside the dispute. First with the signs that could have effected other driver’s safety.
And secondly by bombarding a police station with hundreds of harassing and prank phone calls.
The entire city board created the ordinance about the signs, and instead of complaining to the board, suing, getting a ballot measure, the Tea Party attacked and harassed a police station.
In trying to draw an equivalence between the two behaviors people seem to be missing that major difference. The cop was juvenile but what he did effected the one person involved. What the other guy did, not only effected multiple people but was an attack on the democratic process of the entire town.
Dawson
I am more interested in knowing how we can get more information on Greg Luca. E amil, phone, address, where he works. Maybe we should phone him or his employer as he had others do. Also how can we show our support to Police Chief Keleman?
One thing that has been clear since the beginning of time—religious fanatics, conservatives and especially the tea party have no sense of humor.
Maude
@Dakotahgeo:S
Sorry Dakotahgeo,and Cam, but BJ is 100% right.
Get off your one track mind, and stop embarrassing the whole Gay Community with your lack of understanding, that you demand for yourself.
The guy is a gay police officer choosing who he will, or will not serve in that capacity.
He should be suspended without pay for at least 3 months, or more.
His victim was/is a shmuck, but he was demonstrating for what he believes…Lets prove him wrong in a way that makes us (the gay community) proud.
Cam
@Maude:
BJ, when Queerty bans you, or when people have called you out too many times and you create a new screename I have a few suggestions.
Vary your writing style. You make it too easy to spot you when you type exactly like yourself.
Try finding a screename that sounds a bit like one that is already on here so it isn’t completely obvious that a brand new screename has come out of nowhere to suddenly defend you.
And finally, if you have a more rational position and were not consistently defending anti-gay bigots, you wouldn’t have to go through all of this every time you post.
Maude
“I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
Ring any bells? WE have many of our supporters disappointed in us now because we deny others what we have demanded, and are demanding for ourselves.
Where is our creditability when we act like a bunch of stupid faggots?
Most of us are not, but the few that are, seem to be right here, on Queerty.
Cam
@Maude:
And again, BJ, please see the part above where I posted, if you don’t want us to see that you are hiding under a new screename, you should vary your writing style.
Maude
@Cam:
On this site, I am Maude, and have been since I signed up several years ago.
I have no idea who you think I am pretending to be, but you are exactly the type of queer most of the straight world use to think we were, so why don’t you gather up whatever self respect you have left, and get the hell out of the way.
You’re transparent, oily, and old stuff. Have the decency to go away.
Maude
I just went back to see what BJ posted….not bad, but not me.
I’m gay, and as open minded as BJ seems to be.
Closed minds are ill advised to assume there can be no more than one of a kind that appreciates the fact that we live in the United States Of America…Where freedom of speech is what got the gay community this far, and will continue as long as we don’t deny the same freedom of speech to others.
Those closed mind only make it more and more difficult when they condemn, and deny the very thing that keeps the gay community safe….The right to speak our minds, and demand the respect that others demand for themselves.
maurice1111
How does Officer Kelemen know about these “naughty gay websites”?
jar23666
I agree with Maurice…he is in the closet, but who would not be in a law enforcement uniform?
PARKAVMAN
He should be a hero.
pscheck2
Ironically, trying to demean these nitwits by associating them with a gay blog might only gain them sympathy from the public at large and, thus, gain them political coinage! Better let them alone, they are doing a great job of discrediting themselves and by election day, they will be the biggest vote getter for the democrats( splitting the conservative vote)!
J.T.
I would be delighted to be in Chief Keleman’s custody. I’d accept any punishment he wanted to mete out.
Nowuvedoneit
@Cam: I am not defending the Tea Party, I’m only using logic in my reasoning that the officer and Tea Party were wrong. I do not condone childish, revenge type actions from people in authority that have the the right to kill. You forget he’s armed and if that bothered him that much what else would he be capable of? It’s nauseating that you and others say well if you aren’t thinking exactly like me you must be one if them. I am not but I am a person that can think critically instead of knee jerk reactions to people who oppose my beliefs.
erasure25
They need to countersue. Those tea baggers made a potentially life threatening situation by tying up the phone lines for legitimate callers. They need to review the records and see if anyone who had a legitimate call could not get through and subsequently suffered damages. If so, those tea baggers should be liable for any ensuing damages.
Nowuvedoneit
All I’m gonna say it was not that serious any of this at all and if I disagreed with some you that was it just a disagreement. So this non issue for me is being out to bed.
YSnagglepuss
The Tea Partier got TEABAGGED by Officer Kelemen, and that is just deserts! Kudos Officer Kelemen!
Jezzerat
@BJ McFrisky: You could probably shorten your sentence to read, “I can’t think,” and it would be a lot more honest.
Atomicrob
@BJ McFrisky: Michele Bachmann immediately comes to mind.
seaguy
The tea party is awful they hate the gay community so on that I can’t blame him. But he is sworn to uphold the law and it’s not really lawful what he did. That said he shouldn’t get a harsh sentence is was bad judgement.
I have worked in public service and the tea baggers want all the services but don’t wanna pay a penny in taxes so they can really push the buttons of someone who works in govt.
He is cute too.
pscheck2
Doing a bit of musing, but could he be in our ‘camp?’
Cam
@Maude: said…”On this site, I am Maude, and have been since I signed up several years ago.
I have no idea who you think I am pretending to be, but you are exactly the type of queer most of the straight world use to think we were, so why don’t you gather up whatever self respect you have left, and get the hell out of the way.”
___________________________
Yes, SUUUURE, you’ve been on here for YEARS and yet you happen to now know one of the few other people that absolutely agree with you on topics. And you have read these comments, but HAPPEN to have missed the comments by the one person who really agreed with you? (Snicker).
Uh Huh, yeah, BJ (Maude), again, if you are going to try to come up with another screename try not to make it so obvious.
Cam
@Nowuvedoneit: said… ” I am not defending the Tea Party, I’m only using logic in my reasoning that the officer and Tea Party were wrong.”
___________________
I get what you are saying, my point was that the TEa Partier did something that attacked the entire group of voters in the city, whereas the police officers actions effected the one person he was in conflict with and drawing an equivalence between them is not accurate. To me it’s like saying, one kid broke their plate at home because they got angry and another kid stole a car and crashed it. Yes, they were both stupid but one was far worse.
Dakotahgeo
@BJ McFrisky: Sorry, I don’t watch MSNBC. I’m much more intelligent than MSNBC or you!
Dakotahgeo
@Jezzerat: Thank you! You’ve been way too kind already!
Dakotahgeo
@Cam: BJMc has the same Klingon writing style and that always undermines ones’ intentions. We have the same problem on another few blogs with a Hooper/Susie Sotar/Brad/Paul621. We finally got him/her banned.
Dakotahgeo
@Maude: Maudy, you and BJMc couldn’t be closer if you were conjoined twins. Now give us all a break and use just one name, or the other, okay? People can see right through this charade.
Dakotahgeo
@BJ McFrisky: That’s all it took? To make your day?? Oooweee, you’re way too easy! Thank YOU!!!
Milk
@pressuredrop: That’s the MO of the right wing nuts.
pscheck2
no worse than the left wing loonies!
jar23666
Everyone is a loony of some sort, right wing or left wing. Having a middle of the road approach to life is best with common sense and forbearance.
Milk
@Dakotahgeo: I wonder what tune do they tap to between the stalls in the toilets.
jar23666
Back when I lived in Columbus, OH, I sought a similar revenge to a boyfriend whom I held a lot of RESENTMENT towards. I did much the same things Police Chief Keleman did to him: got his credit card number, had a huge amount of porn mailed to him, and signed him up for dozens of magazines to go to his work place. My punishment was very light: just have no contact with him ever again whatsoever.
My point that some battles are not worth fighting. In this case, Chief Keleman should just let them go, manifest their hate, and avoid their home life with their families and children. The last two concepts are an oxymoron to their so-called holier than grandeur Christian life. Sooner or later, they will run of steam, take all their sick and vacation days off from work, run out of money, and when the weather changes, give up!
I am sure the drivers who see their postings either flipped them the bird or honked at them.
jar23666
In addition, what we gay folk often forget is that when we exercise our freedom of expression and speech at pride marches and protests against the Tea Party, they have the same First Amendment rights as we do.
The First Amendment is for ALL law abiding citizens, but, in the case of Chief Keleman, when someone impugns another’s privacy of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that is where the law he is paid to enforce has to correct him and others, like it did me in the aforementioned story.
pscheck2
I agree: what is good for the goose is good for the gander