Mikey V, Beyond the Headlines…
Detective Verdugo, better known as Mikey V, the fourth place contestant on HGTVs Design Star Season 3, has had a lot of headlines written about him recently. He’s already famous from his reality TV experience, he’s a gay cop, and he was fired from his job as a Hollywood, FL (not to be confused with Hollywood, CA), police officer after they found out he had been in a gay porn video. While the media likes to place labels on people and declare in big bold print what and who a person is, none of them truly depict the struggles of a man who regardless of how well he performed at his job, was treated with anti-gay harassment and discrimination. So why does he want to go back? If he’s already a famous designer, why doesn’t he just do that? We spoke with Mikey V, about these very questions, and got the full story directly from the person at the center of all this media attention.
Back in 1996, when Mikey was only 22 and barely legal to drink, he was experimenting with his life and was offered a role in a “soft core” gay porn video. While he doesn’t regret the experience, after the one video he realized that wasn’t the direction he wanted to take his life.
Following his true instincts three years later in 1999, he got his police certificate in the state of Florida and began his career as a police officer for the Lauderhill Police Department. “I’ve wanted to be a cop ever since I could remember”, says Mikey.
When asked if he was ever hesitant to come out, “I’ve always been out. Ever since I was at Lauderhill. I even took a few straight cop buddies of mine to the gay clubs with their wives. It was no big deal.”
In 2001, Mikey transferred to the Hollywood Florida Police Department. During his initial few years there he thrived. He was a rising star within the department. He was quickly promoted and by 2005, he was promoted to the elite South Florida Money Laundering Strike Force. In this role he acted as an under cover agent. Often times collaborating with the FBI, the DEA, and other state and federal organizations to catch drug dealers, money launderers, etc. He was so successful in this role he received a special commendation stating, “Detective Verdugo has flawlessly conducted these operations in Miami, New York City, Chicago, Puerto Rico and Los Angeles.” In his first year on this special task force he was directly responsible in seizing more than $1.5 million in US currency, and more than $3 million worth of drugs.
However, regardless of his performance, Detective Verdugo was often the witness of many anti-gay slurs and comments directed towards himself or “gay men” in general starting in 2004. The first time he experienced harassment was after a weekend circuit party in Miami. Someone sent an anonymous note to his superiors claiming they saw him at the event. Even though the department has never done surprise drug testing, he was required to take a random drug exam to see if he had taken drugs while at the event. While eating lunch with other officers, one of them asked him, “What do you fags do with those huge dildos?” While changing in the locker room, he over heard a superior of his say, “I don’t want Faggots on my SWAT team.” These are just of the few of the many examples he had to put up with during his time at the Hollywood Police Department.
Finally, in 2007, Detective Verdugo had enough of the harassment and filed a hostile work environment complaint against his direct supervisor. Against normal policy regulation, his supervisor was not suspended pending the investigation, but it was Detective Verdugo that was moved out of his department and put on street patrol.
During the initial hostile work place investigation in 2007, Mikey V applied for and was offered a role on the HGTV reality series Design Star. During his two months away from the department during filming of the show, Mikey V decided to drop his suit against the Hollywood Police Department. The internal investigation of Detective Verdugo’s initial hostile workplace complaint was sustained and his supervisor was only required to attend sensitivity training. When asked about how he felt about the way the department handled his situation, “Look I went against one of the boys. He’s (Detective Verdugo’s direct supervisor) one of the untouchables.”
Starting in June of 2008, after HGTV began airing Design Star Season 3, Detective Verdugo, now known as Mikey V became an international reality star.
In July of 2008, someone recognized Mikey V from the Design Star show as having once performed in a “soft core” gay porn film. It spread through the media like wild fire. As a result he was immediately put on administrative leave for a fact finding investigation. At this point, the Hollywood Police Department had the “reason” they needed to terminate Detective Verdugo. In January of 2009, the final conclusion of the investigation was that he would be terminated from the Hollywood Police Dept for failing to disclose the one time video as employment.
Detective Verdugo, appealed the investigation findings unsuccessfully. However, he kept pursuing the issue. In April of 2009, he was offered his job back under many severe restrictions. Per this offer, Detective Verdugo would never be promoted in the future, he could be placed anywhere in the department without dispute, and he could not sue for anything that happened in the past or for anything that might happen in the future. He refused to sign the agreement and continued to pursue his rights. In October 2009, he began the arbitration process. During which he claims, “They were even more hostile towards me than the initial investigation.” Finally, in December of 2009 the arbiter upheld the termination.
On January 25, 2010, Detective Verdugo’s story was placed on the front page of the South Florida Gay News. Within the next two days his story had international coverage, appearing both on MSNBC and USA Today. His story was a media gold mine. A reality star, gay cop, fired for being in a gay porn video.
Even with all this unwanted media attention, Detective Verdugo, continued to pursue justice. He appealed again his termination with the state of Florida. On March 23, 2010, he appeared before the Florida Department of Law Enforcement where he was accused of leaving out the detail of his one time involvement in a gay porn video. During his hearing he watched other officers that were convicted of DUI’s, domestic battery, and felony narcotics, all being permitted to keep their police certifications. However, the board ruled that his actions were immoral and in bad judgment and as such he should not be permitted to wear a badge or carry a gun.
After this defeat, Detective Verdugo, convinced that this was an injustice continued to pursue the matter with the state of Flordia. Finally, on August 12, 2010 The Florida Department of Law Enforcement ruled in Detective Verdugo’s favor and allowed him to keep his police certificate. Even though he won his right to keep his police certificate in the state of Florida, this ruling puts in conflict the initial grounds of his termination. Detective Verdugo, still has to appeal to the Hollywood Police Department to get his old job back.
Regardless, of anyone’s opinion of Mikey V’s participation in the “soft core” gay porn, it’s clear to any outside observer that this was just the “reason” that the Hollywood Police Department needed to get rid of a troublemaker. Someone who had the courage to stand up for his rights. Mikey V’s abuse and harassment happened before he was a reality star, his fame, unfortunately, was probably what gave his superiors the ammunition they needed to finally get rid of him.
Now that the state of Florida has reinstated his police certificate, he’s qualified to be a police officer anywhere in the state. So why doesn’t he just move to a friendlier police department? Why is he still pursuing his old job with the Hollywood Police Department? Detective Verdugo says, “I spent nine years with that department. I was a good cop, and my problem was never with other officers just my superiors. One more year and I would have tenure.”
When asked why he pursued this long and difficult road to get his police certificate back, in light of the fact that he’s a famous interior designer with a successful design company he runs on the side, “Being a cop is who I am. I can do both successfully, but ultimately, my identity is that of a cop.”
Detective Verdugo’s fight for his rights as a gay cop are a lesson for all of us. Even in the face of harassment, humiliation, and numerous legal appeals which directly questioned his right to be treated as an equal human being, he fought for justice. He never gave up. Beyond the scandal, and the headlines, he’s a true hero, and paved the way for a more fair and equal world for all of us.
For more information on this article:
• Check out Mikey V’s Facebook Page
• Check out Mikey V’s Design Studio
• Find out more information about LGBT Employment Rights
