Salvi v. Suffolk County Sheriff's Department

The jury were warranted in making the following findings. Despite the desire of the plaintiff, Michael C. Salvi, to keep his sexual orientation private at work, rumors that he was homosexual spread through the Suffolk County sheriff’s department (department) in late 1997 or early 1998. Beginning at that time, the plaintiff heard derogatory comments about homosexuals and learned that he had been referred to as a “fucking fag” by coworkers and by his commanding officer. His coworkers snickered and called him “sissy” at roll call. He felt shunned in the prison cafeteria. Children’s toy blocks…