"This was a very clear-cut case of discrimination based on sexual preference, and frankly, it's about as egregious a situation as I can recall," said attorney Timothy M. Burke, who represents 17-year department veteran Officer Edward "Chris" Bettencourt. "My client wants to ensure that nothing like this is done to anybody else."

An attorney for the town described Lieutenant Donald Blanchette's behavior as "inappropriate horseplay" and said it involved numerous people. It had nothing to do with Bettencourt's sexuality, said Attorney Lenny Kesten, who spoke on behalf of the police and town. The sense of humor in a police station, he said, can be very different than in other professional settings.

"Waving a knife around, saying 'Slash, slash ' . . . it happens. It happens and people laugh, for the most part," he said. "But this was offensive. He offended people. That's why he suffered a very severe penalty."