Gay Former Cop Runs For London Mayor

London's former Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner, Brian Paddick, is the Liberal Democrats' nominee for London mayor. Once the highest-ranked openly gay cop in the world, Paddick, 49, will face popular Labor incumbent Ken Livingstone and Tory candidate Boris Johnson.

Earlier this year, Paddick left London's police force after 30-year career. In 2005, he famously argued with London's Police Commissioner regarding the 2005 shooting by police of an innocent man mistaken for a terror suspect. Tony Blair's government maintained the man was a terrorist, Paddick was proven correct. Paddick also made a name for his deprioritizing of drug arrests.

If Paddick is elected, London will join Paris and Berlin as major world cities with openly gay mayors.