LAPD Officer Appeals Suspension

A veteran LAPD officer in the West Valley division appealed her suspension without pay at a police Board of Rights hearing Tuesday, saying the action was taken after she complained about a “No Fat Cops” poster in her supervisor’s office.

Johnneen Jones, an officer for 12 years, says she objected to the poster because--at 5 feet, 6 inches and 180 pounds--she considers herself overweight.

Activists from the National Assn. for Advancement of Fat Acceptance showed up in support of Jones. The Sacramento-based organization lobbies for fat-friendly legislation, conducts legal research and raises funds to fight anti-fat messages.

“This disturbs me on so many levels,” said Linda Ramos, president of the organization’s Los Angeles chapter. “I’m a fat person, and I interact with the Los Angeles Police Department all the time. The idea that this represents someone who looks like me is very scary.”

At the hearing, LAPD Sgt. Jerry Ruffin defended the department’s action. The LAPD’s advocate in the case, he said Jones was not suspended for her viewpoint but because she refused to follow the orders of a detective who told her to leave the captain’s office, where the poster hung more than a year ago.

The Board of Rights will determine whether to reinstate Jones or to impose further disciplinary action, including possible firing.

Jones says she was taking a photo in the office in June 1999 because she had complained about the poster to a sergeant in another division, who she says asked her for a picture of it.

The poster, about 2 feet high and 1 1/2 feet wide, depicts an overweight man, wearing only a towel around his waist, breaking a scale. A blue police uniform is hanging nearby, and “Fat Grows on You” is written across the top, with “No Fat Cops” written on the bottom.

It hung in the office of former West Valley Division Capt. Julie Nelson, who has since transferred to another division of the LAPD.

“I complained, and now they’re retaliating against me,” Jones said. “It’s an inappropriate poster.” She said she is being targeted for her outspokenness, not for her weight, which she maintains has never affected her job performance.

LAPD officials would not comment on Jones’ claim beyond what they said in the hearing.