Chief Otis Latin
D.C. Fire Department
1923 Vermont Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
Dear Chief Latin:
I am writing about what appears to be a case of deliberate harassment by D.C. Fire Department personnel against the Crew Club, a business oriented towards gay men, located in the 1300 block of 14th Street, N.W. The incident was witnessed by one of our members.
On Sunday morning, November 17, at approximately 12:15 a.m., several men in civilian clothes appeared on the premises of the Crew Club and, among other things, apparently asked the manager on duty to test their fire alarm bell. When the manager was initially unable to find the key that would enable him to access the alarm system, these men ordered the manager to announce to all the customers that the place was being closed down and that everyone had to leave the premises in 10 minutes. While the customers were checking out, the manager found the key and tested the alarm, which worked loudly. The closing went on, however.
We see no excuse for this incident. If your staff is genuinely concerned for the welfare of the clientele of establishments such as the Crew Club, inspections of fire alarm systems can and should be carried out during normal business hours--not on a busy Saturday night. If, however, your staff was merely using a check on the alarm system as a pretext for intimidating the management and customers at a time when the business would most likely be busy, this raid was an outrageous abuse of your department's powers.
We are therefore asking for a full investigation of the circumstances behind this raid, and for appropriate discipline to be handed out to those found responsible. We look forward to a speedy resolution of this incident and for firm action on your part to ensure that this kind of harassment will not be repeated.
Please feel free to contact me on 667-5139 if you need any further information from us. Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Rosendall
President
Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C.
cc: Crew Club
Gay Men & Lesbians Opposing Violence
ACLU/National Capital Area
The Honorable Jack Evans
The Washington Blade
InTowner
Washington City Paper
