Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Officer suspended over 7s Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 19:23:58 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \SS (WS) \HD Officer suspended over 7s \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT DEARBORN, Mich. DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - A police corporal was suspended and ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation because he writes the number seven with a line through the downstroke. Cpl. Brian Yinger said he tried to break the habit when he was ordered to six months ago but was brought before a department disciplinary board when he forgot while writing some reports. "The way he was writing them was confusing for the typist," said Police Chief Robert Deziel. "He defied the order to stop. He was told he would face disciplinary action." The board suspended Cpl. Yinger without pay for three days. Chief Deziel also ordered him to undergo psychiatric evaluation to determine whether the old sevens are out of his system. "I have been making these sevens for 30 years," said Cpl. Yinger, who returned to work Thursday after his suspension. "I've never had a problem before." Cpl. Yinger said he acquired the habit in the seventh grade and continued during his years in the Navy, the Naval Reserve and for more than 15 years on the Dearborn force. It's also common for Europeans to write the number seven the same way, clearly differentiating that number from the number one. He said he fears the incident might hurt his career and cost him a promotion to sergeant. Cpl. Yinger said he was considering a civil lawsuit. The dispute could end up costing the city nearly $4,000 in transcripts, arbitration fees and back pay, union and police officials estimated. Sgt. Gary Pushee, president of the Police Officers Association of Dearborn, called it "the weirdest case I've ever seen." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM