[color="Blue"](Could they fit any more jews into this story???)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-424officerquits,0,3304849.story

Highland Beach police officer accused of racist jokes retires

By Rachel Hatzipanagos

Sun-Sentinel.com

4:12 PM EDT, April 24, 2008

A Highland Beach police officer accused of telling racist jokes in the department has retired.

Officer Martin [color="Red"]Finkelstein, 63, submitted a letter announcing his retirement earlier this week. His attorney said the move had nothing to do with the allegations.

An internal investigation started after a March 17 letter written by a fellow officer, Kyle Cimiotti, accused [color="Red"]Finkelstein of making inappropriate remarks about Italians and blacks in the department's lunchroom.

"It has become a hostile work environment, a detriment to my daily activities, and my safety," Cimiotti wrote.

[color="Red"]Finkelstein's lawyer said his client was innocent and ready to retire.

"We are giving his statement [to internal investigators] before his last day," said Lawrence [color="Red"]Fagan of the Police Benevolent Association.

[color="Red"]Fagan said the officer could not comment because the investigation was ongoing and might continue after Finkelstein retires.

Police Chief Carlo Angelillo could not be reached for comment despite phone calls. Town Manager Dale [color="Red"]Sugerman declined to comment on any internal investigations.

[color="Red"]Finkelstein's wife, Karen [color="Red"]Finkelstein, said the accusations are false.

"It's a ridiculous situation," she said. "My husband would never, ever tell jokes along racial lines. In our family, we have all religions and races. We don't joke about it."

This isn't the first time allegations of racism have been raised in recent years in the department.

In July 2007, Deborah Jean Chipman McCray filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the town because she said she was not hired for a sergeant's position because of her race.

The lawsuit states that Angelillo said he "felt that a black female would not fit into the Highland Beach Police Department" because "there are only a few Afro-Americans residing in Highland Beach, and the applicant [McCray] would not fit in there."

McCray was hired by Highland Beach as an officer, not a sergeant, in February.

Her attorney, Adam [color="Red"]Chotiner, said that the lawsuit is pending.

Angelillo has denied the accusations.