Rep. Jimmie Minardi's howl for a strict law against "perverts." Mayor Nuccio and city representatives urged study of such an ordinance.

June: State senate committee investigates Tampa state TB hospital, files allegedly libelous report with Gov. Collins (but not with state TB board). Sen. Morgan refused to disclose nature of report but charged TB director Dr. Robt. Davies blocked investigation. "Not true," said Dr. Davies, hinting that Sheriff Blackburn's office threatened hospital employee to get statements. Sen. L. K. Edwards said investigation was about homosexuality at hospital. 3rd committeeman, Sen. Joe Bill Rood, said he'd been kept in dark. on whole affair, which he labelled "gestapo tactics."

Weeks later, with great fanfare, Sheriff Ed Blackburn produced last of 7 (he'd promised 20) county school employees suspected of "deviating from normal." School board hushed up names, "because of families," indicating also reports were mostly hearsay. 4 of the 7 had left school system prior to investigation. Supt. Farnell promised record would follow any transferring to another school system.

In "opening shot" of their "war against perverts," 8 Tampa vice squadders hit Jimmie White's Tavern, arrested 12 women-because of "mannish" dress-questioned but did not arrest 2 waitresses in men's clothes. "My orders came from the top," said Captain Howell Ryals, "we're going to put a stop to this activity once and for all." The 12 held without charge "on general investigation," to be fingerprinted, questioned, mugged, etc. If their records are clean, said the vice chief, "We'll have to let them go for now, but we're going to keep after them until we run them out of town." Raid on Fungie's Tavern

netted only one woman, arrested because of her appearance. "If you're a woman you ought to dress. like one," she was told. (What was it the senator said about "gestapo. tactics"?) Detective Guy Woolweaver said the Miami crackdown drove perverts to Tampa. "This is their headquarters now."

Knotty Pine Bar raided next-15 men and woman arrested-fingerprinted, etc., released without booking. Cops said raid followed "numerous complaints of residents in area" about homosexuals in bar. What residents? The bar is surrounded by parking lots, garage, brewery, and a few small businesses closed at night-but no residents within several blocks.

...

A juvenile "sex-orgy" vice raid on a Rocky Point club (4 kids arrested and cop on duty at club suspended) . . . some play to stories from elsewhere in nation about Negro youths attacking white boys -one following a sex attackother proved to be fabrication and the Faubus mess crowded the "anti-pervert drive" out of Tampa papers for time being. . . . One Tampa rookie cop did a very foolish thing-man he tried to ticket for speeding was Asst. Chief Campbell in civvies on fishing trip. Not only did Campbell spurn the proferred ticket but he howled for days: "G... d... shame," "hoodlums,' "ought to have their speedometers checked." Tsk. That poor rookie won't last.

Meanwhile, back in Miami, another old-time "anti-pervert" was in hot water. Miami Beach cops may have been rough on homos, but they were so chummy with bigtime hoods on the Beach that a grand jury investigation following the Beck-Hoffa-Dio scandals led to Beach topcop Romeo Shepard's replacement.

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