After attack, did New Port Richey police ignore victim?

In his 64 years, in all his openly gay life, Catania had never endured a beating. But now, in the bedroom of his own home just two blocks from the restaurant he lovingly tended for 15 years, he touched his unrecognizable face and it crackled like paper.

"I looked like the elephant man,'' he said. "My sinuses were ripped to shreds, my face was shattered.''

Sometime before 5 a.m. Aug. 23 on quiet, tree-shaded Illinois Avenue in New Port Richey, Joe Catania fell victim to a hate crime. He has no doubt about that. But he has plenty of doubt that the local police gave it much attention.

He also has several friends in town, people who admired what he did with the Cafe Grand before retiring in 2004. Last week, some of them started complaining. Now Mayor Scott McPherson and City Manager Tom O'Neill are involved. They have a meeting scheduled this week with police officials.

"I don't have enough information to form an opinion about it,'' said McPherson, "but when any citizen accuses our police of being unprofessional, I think it's appropriate for the mayor to get involved.''

Catania is crystal clear about that: "The police blew it,'' he said. "The officer who came to the house that morning said, 'Your story doesn't add up.' She said, 'Are you sure you weren't entertaining these gentlemen and something went wrong?' "

"I've been in this city a long time. I've been a respected member of the community, and I've been openly gay. I don't deserve to be treated this way. But more important, these guys are mean, dangerous killers — and they're still out there.''

Catania said that after he was beaten, one of the men said, "If you don't die, we'll come back and kill you.''

The police officer who responded to the beating, Kimberly Cosimi, was fired Sept. 22 after only a year at the department. Lt. Jeffrey Harrington said it had nothing to do with Catania's case, and her personnel file includes a letter from Chief Martin Rickus saying she had excessive sick time and a "lack of commitment.'' Cosimi, who was a Pasco sheriff's deputy for 10 years before joining the city force, declined to comment.

Harrington provided only the cover sheet of the incident report, saying the case is under investigation. "I'm aware Mr. Catania doesn't think it was given sufficient priority, but it was assigned to a detective. I can appreciate any anxiety he has as a victim of a crime. But the chief has directed that it be made a priority.'' He said the department is awaiting some results from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab in Tampa.

Catania complained that police didn't take fingerprints until four days after the beating. The assailants took his iPhone, which had a tracking system, but Catania said police ignored his suggestion to pursue it.

Catania also gave the police a name — Chad. And though the two men were disguised, one had a Hispanic accent, he said. Catania was certain he knew the two men.

Several weeks before the attack, Catania met a young man on an online dating service. They partied. The man brought a friend, who was Hispanic.

Catania said he later rejected "Chad.'' A week before the beating, Catania went outside his home to find his tires had been slashed.

That's a lot of information to work with, "if the police are interested,'' he said. "Clearly, they weren't. On the report, they label it a home invasion. This was an attempted murder. They wanted me dead. You can tell the police didn't take it seriously because they didn't even report it to the public. You can burp in New Port Richey and it makes the papers. You have a brutal beating in a residential neighborhood, nothing.''

Meanwhile, Catania says he suffers dizziness and can't sleep. Worried that his assailants would return to finish him off, he took his 15-year-old Westy, "Woo,'' and left town.

"This was my home,'' Catania said. "I never wanted to leave. But I am terrified.''

Comments on this article

by Mary	Oct 9, 2008 3:44 PM
I believe the police dishonored their profession absolutely,if you are invaded in your home and beaten senseless there can't be a worse crime. It wasn't treated as such. Joe is one outstanding,decent person that anyone would love to be a friend to.

by Mary	Oct 9, 2008 3:43 PM
Joe should have been treated like all victims of brutal crimes. He was asleep when the attack occurred, defenseless. He is one special, outstanding man, gay/straight, who cares. I pray he will return to good health and encourage him to seek justice.

by Mary	Oct 9, 2008 3:43 PM
I had the opportunity to meet and come to know Joe and can tell you one thing for certain that he is one kind and most sophisticated human being that did not deserve to be the victim of this diabolic and purely hate crime. He should seek justice

by JoAnn	Oct 8, 2008 8:00 PM
NPR police department should be ashamed. This is a hate crime! Are you all homophobic and just don't care, or stupid?

by Suzie	Oct 8, 2008 4:57 PM
No human being should have to leave town because of fear. Hate crime yes, police response defective. Get these guys before they kill some one. This makes me sick to my stomach. All People Are Created Equal under the law.

by Gail

Oct 8, 2008 2:35 PM

This is a public outcry for change. Change of policing practices of profiling and selective enforcement based on sexual orientation. Such practices create fear and mistrust in me, and I am a heterosexual woman. I will hope that this atrocious crime will shed light on hiring practices, and training of the NPR PD and end police indifference to crimes committed against a person based on race, religious affiliation or sexual orientation.

by Steve	Oct 8, 2008 2:35 PM
This story outrages me! I bang my head on the wall trying to figure out who hires police like this? A man is bloody & broken & these moronic police dont protect the crime scene, trace the phone, follow the leads Joe gave? They must answer for this!!

by Suzie	Oct 8, 2008 2:35 PM
No human being regardless of his life style or heritage should have to endure a hate crime. What is wrong with the law in that town. Or any town that would allow the perps to get away with this. They could have done so much more to help.

by Superman	Oct 7, 2008 11:33 AM
Do you people really believe that the NPRPD would ignore such a crime? Do you believe that there are crooked cops within that P.D.? This just in folks..Stop watching CSI, do your homework before making ignorant statements. NPR will not let this rest.

by friend	Oct 6, 2008 2:07 PM
Joe Catania is probably the most kind giving caring man NPR could have. This is an awful crime and was handled the way NPR police handles everything, Awfully!!!!! The mayor needs to look deep into this. It is one of many many case NPR poice has blown

by joanne	Oct 6, 2008 12:12 PM
whats with the n.p.r. cops they handled this attack on this good man really bad. a hate crime is for sure but from the police it's disgusting. he desrves the same amount of help as anyone else. now this has driven him away from his home.out of fear.

by FairWindsFollowingSeas	Oct 6, 2008 12:11 PM
While neither gay or African American, I was attacked, bludgeoned and beaten into a coma on one of our lustrous naval bases (wasn't robbed either). NEVER was a police report even filed!

by ct	Oct 6, 2008 12:11 PM
This kind of police work sounds like the stupidity women still endure from a rape - like he was asking for it - and he wasn't - and the police prejudge and drop the ball........

by Friend	Oct 6, 2008 12:11 PM
This story is important on another level. What dating site was it? This should be made public as, clearly, these guys are cherry-picking victims from there. Also, w/such a brutal beating, I'd imagine the next victim may not live to tell. Horrific!

by dude813	Oct 6, 2008 12:11 PM
This just shows the sad state of affairs we have sunken into as a society. Unfortunately we can thank many of our local churches that are bigot-making, money-laundering machines that breed hatred and intolerance.

by Candi	Oct 6, 2008 12:11 PM
I wouldn't be surprised at all. There are many crooked cop's in Pasco County. Sad but true. But id it's a buddy of a cop, well then that's ok right? Many secret's over there in your Police Station. Not much honesty in your Police Dept. Dirty hand's !

by Laurie	Oct 6, 2008 12:11 PM
Regardless of the underlying situation, this assault should have had the utmost attention and taken very seriously. I'm appalled at the nonchallant attitude towards this crime by both the NPR police and the public.

by Jamie	Oct 6, 2008 12:10 PM
buy a gun! if they return, go to a corner of the room to ensure that it appears that they have trapped you in your home. Then shoot to kill! If the cops won't save you- save yourself!

by tricia	Oct 6, 2008 12:10 PM
This reminds of the female PINELLAS COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE worker that asked my niece if she was trying to get her mother (my crack smoking,unemplyed,child abusing, unmedicated bi polar sister) in trouble! Some people don't want to do their job.

by David	Oct 6, 2008 12:10 PM
This is really nothing eye opening (except the beating) but I have been called faggot and neighbors put up a "NO FAGGOTS ALLOWED" on their property that is a mere 10 from mine. The Police report was so fraught with errors, I just gave up.

by Concerned Citizen	Oct 6, 2008 12:10 PM
Your sexual orientation is your personal business and should not be the basis upon how much attention you deserve from the NPR "Keystone Cops" (Clowns). You were attacked and this matter should be taken very seriously.

by Matt	Oct 6, 2008 12:10 PM
S - if they met online NPD would be able to request released information such as email address and I.P. address. That, in addition to the iphone, would help find the assailant. I suppose the police force is rather clueless over there in NPR.

by tony	Oct 6, 2008 10:01 AM
NPR police? there's your problem. joke of an agency.

by npr voter	Oct 5, 2008 10:59 AM
We've had "good" cop response AND crappy ones too. Then there's the times that there's no response at all. With the NPR force, it seems to be a roll of the dice.

by Dee	Oct 5, 2008 10:52 AM
Although I agree that this could have been handled more aggressively, it's just another example of "don't bring home people you meet online!" And further, did he not think it was strange that the man came with a friend? That should've been a clue.

by Lori	Oct 5, 2008 10:52 AM
Maybe the assailants were heterosexuals. Is it possible they're predators who peruse gay bars and websites looking for victims? If that's the case it sure sounds like a hate crime to me.

by alan	Oct 5, 2008 10:52 AM
not for nothing but it's not just the n.p.r. police dept..thats lazy,, its all three ..sure they'll shoot a man down. on a one on one and claim self defence but if you have ever been robbed ,broken into these police are nothing short of lazy and cari

by S	Oct 5, 2008 10:52 AM
The officer's own issues aside, what does the victim think should be done? What information would the police release to the public? He says that he only knows the one guys is "Chad" and the other guy is hispanic. That doesn't narrow it down much.

by Pete	Oct 5, 2008 10:45 AM
While I am not a supporter of homosexuality, this, if it was because of that reason, was just sick. Actually, it was sick no matter why it happened. It's confusing though- either the report is confusing or the information given by the victim is.

by S	Oct 5, 2008 10:45 AM
The attackers may have been bisexual, for one thing. For another, without a police investigation,the identityof the attackers is not known.Why no follow up of theft of iPhone? Could have helped. Any attack should be followed up.Nextime,they may kill.

by ROGER	Oct 5, 2008 10:44 AM
Rest assured,if this gentleman brought home a "crack whore",and he was beaten and robbed,the case would have been worked.Officer Cossimi is obviously biased,and worse yet,NPR PD A-lacks quality administrators,or B they are biased as well ! A or B ??

by MJR	Oct 5, 2008 10:44 AM
K-THERE IS NO CONFUSION AT ALL.THIS WAS AN INTERNET GENERATED HOME INVASION.FIRST VISIT WAS TO CASE THE PLACE.HE "REJECTED" THE GUEST, HOWEVER, MY GUESS IS THE GUY WANTED TO GET HIM INTO AN UNCOMPROMISING POSITION, IN ORDER TO COMMIT THE CRIME.

by Stu	Oct 5, 2008 10:42 AM
Regardless of an individual's personal lifestyle, all victims of violent crime deserve equal protection under the law. Police aren't as good at preventing crime as they are at catching the perps. Buy a gun and learn how to use it responsibly.

by Houston	Oct 5, 2008 10:42 AM
K, There are old men who pretend to be young men or women on the web. There is misinformation and anonymity. You assumption is not a good one.

by Jim	Oct 5, 2008 10:41 AM
K, could it have been "Chad" was posing as gay, possibly with the intent of bashing or robing this fellow. He was a restaurateur, maybe they thought he had money? The iphone was a good lead! Fingerprints taking 4 days?! This force, worthless.