Virginia Beach officer says police curbed racial epithets

A Virginia Beach police officer testified Monday that he and other officers stopped using racially offensive language and off-color jokes after reports surfaced this summer that such epithets were being used.

Master Police Officer Steven J. Kennedy, a 26-year veteran, confirmed what he had said in an earlier legal deposition - that the N-word and other derogatory language was used among officers while in uniform.

Kennedy was called as a witness in U.S. District Court in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by the Oceanfront club Hammerheads against the city. Club owners Andy Edwards and Louis Ochave claim use of racial slurs is part of a wider effort to rid the 2100 block of Atlantic Ave., called "t he b lock," of nightclubs that cater to younger people.

City Councilman Ron Villanueva testified Monday that there is agreement between the council and city management that a more family- friendly environment is wanted at the Oceanfront. Plans have been drawn up to rebuild the block but nothing official has been approved, the councilman said.

Kennedy's testimony was most dramatic Monday.

"Have you ever heard any of your fellow officers use racially derogatory language?" Hammerheads' attorney, Kevin Martingayle, asked Kennedy.

"A lot of people use the terms," he answered.

Judge Robert G. Doumar interrupted the questioning to ask the attorney what the point was.

"It comes up in tape recordings of drug dealers. They use the N-word," the judge said, but allowed the questioning to continue.

"Yes, I've heard the N-word while the officers were in uniform," Kennedy replied to another question. But he said the language was never used on duty.

Martingayle then asked why the N-word would be used.

"We use a term that would fit. If they were black, unfortunately that's the word that fits," Kennedy said.

"It's a strong negative word," he said a little later. "It's a stupid ignorant person by nature."

Kennedy said officers, including his superiors, used such language over the course of his career despite having at least two sessions on cultural awareness training and being given two department directives prohibiting any discrimination. He said it took this lawsuit to put a stop to it.

"We were all made aware of the negative impact that kind of language can have," he said.

Other police officers who have testified in the case denied using racial slurs.

But witnesses, such as bar patrons and employees, said they have heard officers use such slurs on duty.

Ernestine Combs, who owned the now-defunct 17th Street club Uroma's Lounge, testified Friday that Master Police Officer Albert Mills used the N-word toward her while she stood outside her establishment. She said she never filed a complaint with the department.

Mills earlier testified that he never used racial slurs.

The trial will continue Wednesday.

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com