Michael Verdugo made a public plea in Wilton Manors to regain his post at the Hollywood Police Department. He claims he was let go because his sexuality.
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A former Hollywood Police officer fired for failing to disclose his role in a gay porn film can continue working as a police officer.
That is the decision of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Michael Verdugo called the decision vindication. The police department fired Michael Verdugo after they discovered he acted in a gay porn film called Rope Rituals.
"We definitely opened up their eyes and letting Hollywood know we're not just going to sit down and take this," Verdugo told CBS4's Carey Codd.
Verdugo and his lawyer, George Castrataro, said Hollywood Police wanted Verdugo's certification taken away.
"They wanted blood. They were out for vengeance," Verdugo said. "They could have just terminated me but they went for my certificate. They went after me."
The FDLE did place Verdugo on probation for one year and demand that he take an ethics class. His lawyer said FDLE may suspend his certification for one month. Castrataro said that is standard punishment for failing to disclose information on an employment application.
"If their issue was that he didn't disclose something on his application, then whether if it was performing in Othello, or performing in a porno, it shouldn't have any difference and that's what FDLE said today," Castrataro said.
Verdugo said he doesn't regret performing in the film. He said it's something he did before he was a cop.
"A one day job is not a job," said Verdugo. "The film was just their way of dismissing me and getting rid of their gay officer."
Verdugo is taking the department to court to get his old job back as well as financial relief.
"I just want my rights," said Verdugo. "I want to be able to be a cop. I want to go back. I want to go back. I want to be a cop like I was before."
Verdugo's porn star stint popped up on the internet after he appeared on HGTV's Design Star show as "Mickey V." He said he was the first of just three openly gay officers on the force to reveal their sexual orientation.
Christina Rodriguez is now retired from the Hollywood Police Department. She also claims her openness about being gay caused her to face discrimination on the job.
"You're the strength," said Rodriguez. "You're the first perimeter. You're the first person that they see as a police officer. You're the help you have to be strong and it's difficult sometimes to keep that strength when you don't have that strength behind you from within your safe haven of your own police department walls."
Verdugo urged a large crowd at the Pride Center in Wilton Manors to get involved in the case by writing or calling Hollywood city leaders. He wants the public to urge leaders to ask Hollywood police authorities to back off of his certification hearing and change its ways.
