Caller threatens two city gay bars
‘We don’t take any threats lightly. Everybody should be able to enjoy any establishment that they wish to go into in the City of Boston.’ WILLIAM G. GROSS police commissioner
Two gay bars in the city received threatening phone calls this weekend at about the same time on consecutive nights, prompting police investigations into both.
“We don't take any threats lightly,” Police Commissioner William G. Gross told the Herald yesterday. “Everybody should be able to enjoy any establishment that they wish to go into in the City of Boston. Whether it’s the Alley or the dbar, you should be able to enjoy yourself peacefully.”
A spokesman for the department confirmed that a threatening call was answered by an employee at dbar, a full-service restaurant and nightclub on Dorchester Avenue, Friday night.
Another call targeted The Alley Bar, a nightclub located downtown, Saturday night. The calls came into the bars about 7:30 on both nights.
The police department wouldn’t say whether the incidents were linked and didn’t release any further information about the nature of the threats.
Gross, however, assured both businesses that “all of the areas will be covered” in the investigation.
“If we receive calls for threats, we’re going to investigate it, we’re going to investigate it to the fullest potential and hope we get the individual making those threats,” Gross said. “Captain (Steven) McLaughlin, area C-11 and Captain (Kenneth) Fong have been notified, as well as Captain (Steven) Sweeney.
“We like to be cognizant of any threat,” he said. “Any threat is always concerning, but we’re here for the folks.”
Neither The Alley Bar nor dbar responded to requests for comment.