A Fort Worth police officer was recorded warning two Christian street preachers that she would issue them a ticket for “offensive speech” during the city’s Trinity Pride Fest on June 27.
The viral video shows Officer Stogner confronting evangelists Rich Penkoski, a veteran, and David Grisham on a public street outside the all-ages event. The officer made it clear that hurt feelings from attendees could land the preachers in legal trouble.
“If someone is offended by your talking, then we have a problem,” Stogner said. “If they are offended by your speech, OK, I will write you a ticket, and we’ll go from there.”When one of the men asked, “Wait, you’re going to ticket us for offensive speech?” she replied without hesitation: “Yes, absolutely.”
Stogner suggested the speech could be treated as disorderly conduct. The exchange has fueled accusations that Fort Worth police were more interested in shielding Pride attendees from disagreement than in upholding the First Amendment on public property.
The preachers say officers blocked them from the sidewalk and directed them outside barricades as they attempted to share their message. Grisham was ultimately cited for “unreasonable noise” after using a bullhorn, which police said drew complaints from nearby businesses. Officers seized the device as evidence.
Fort Worth PD has since reviewed the footage and admitted some of the officer’s statements were “not accurate.” The department announced it will give officers a refresher course on First Amendment protections. Police maintain they did not stop the men from speaking without amplification.
Attorneys for Grisham are fighting the citation anyway. They argue officers failed to properly measure sound levels with a decibel meter and that the city’s noise rules conflict with state law. The firm has signaled plans to challenge the ticket in court and accused police of threatening arrest rather than protecting constitutional rights.
Penkoski expressed disbelief at the encounter.“I never in a million years thought that this is the America we’d be living in right now,” he said, noting his background as a veteran.
The clip, which exploded in views after being shared widely online, has drawn sharp reactions from those who see it as yet another example of law enforcement prioritizing feelings over free speech, especially at events celebrating progressive causes.
While police insist the citation was strictly about volume, not content, the on-camera threat to ticket people simply because their words offended someone remains on record. In Texas and across the country, courts have long held that offensive speech is still protected speech.
Critics are asking why Christian preachers preaching on public sidewalks near a Pride event were met with warnings about “offensive” language. At the same time, other forms of expression at the same gathering apparently faced no such scrutiny.
The incident comes as Fort Worth PD faces questions about how it handles public demonstrations and street evangelism. The preachers and their legal team say they intend to keep fighting until the department gets the message that the Constitution still applies in Texas.
