Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Charles H. Cochrane


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was keep. (non-admin closure)  Arun Kumar SINGH (Talk)  08:12, 10 July 2016 (UTC)

Charles H. Cochrane

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Minimally sourced biography of a person notable mainly as the first member of the New York City police force to come out as gay. Granted, he seems to have done it early enough -- one of the two sources is dated 1981 -- that there's a small element of surprise to this, but being the first openly gay person in an otherwise non-notable role is not in and of itself grounds for an encyclopedia article, if the fact of his sexuality is literally all that can actually be said about him. Besides that article from 1981, the only other source here is about a group of gay cops requesting that a city street be named for him after his death -- but there's no indication whatsoever that the request was successful. If he could be sourced over WP:GNG for this then things might be different, but the volume of sourcing on display here doesn't demonstrate that he's earned a place in an international encyclopedia. Delete. Bearcat (talk) 22:07, 16 June 2016 (UTC)
 * According to an article in the June 15, 2016 Daily News, he's getting "Charles Cochrane Way" named after him in Greenwich Village tomorrow (Friday, June 17). The article is unclear about exactly where this will be, and whether it is only a corner or some part of a street.   The Gay Officers Action League website identifies the renamed location as "the intersection of Washington Place and the Avenue of the Americas" : this intersection is also the location of the Church of St. Joseph in Greenwich Village.   We should watch for coverage over the next few days to see if this ceremony yields additional material in reliable sources about Sgt. Cochrane. --Arxiloxos (talk) 22:57, 16 June 2016 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of People-related deletion discussions.  B E C K Y S A Y L E S  06:32, 17 June 2016 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of New York-related deletion discussions.  B E C K Y S A Y L E S  06:33, 17 June 2016 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Sexuality and gender-related deletion discussions.  B E C K Y S A Y L E S  06:33, 17 June 2016 (UTC)

 Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus.
 * Delete non-notable police officer.John Pack Lambert (talk) 18:12, 18 June 2016 (UTC)

Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, North America1000 03:35, 24 June 2016 (UTC)
 * Delete as, aside from the apparent events, there's still nothing actually convincing for an independent article. SwisterTwister   talk  20:33, 1 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Comment I would recommend this be relisted. I am trying to find sources for this. --Lemongirl942 (talk) 07:36, 2 July 2016 (UTC)
 * There seems to be some more claims of significance. It seems he established an organisation called GOAL. See this Congressional record --Lemongirl942 (talk) 07:39, 2 July 2016 (UTC)

 Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus. Relisting comment: Relisted as an attempt to find sources is ongoing. Please report back on your further findings. KaisaL (talk) 16:05, 2 July 2016 (UTC)

Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, KaisaL (talk) 16:05, 2 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Keep - Once we are getting New York city streets named after a subject, reported in the mainstream press (see THIS), GNG is fulfilled. Carrite (talk) 18:00, 4 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Comment - Here's another source counting to GNG, unfortunately blocked by a paywall by Newspapers.com: "Policeman Emerges from Threat to Limelight," Arizona Republic [Phoenix], Jan. 10, 1982, pg. 49 — extensive article about Cochrane, with photograph. Carrite (talk) 18:08, 4 July 2016 (UTC)
 * There is also an article, similarly paywalled by Newspapers.com, from the Poughkeepsie Journal, Oct. 10, 1984, pg. 23. Not quite sure the article title of that one, but coverage of Cochrane is substantial and mention is made of a story about him in the New York Post. Carrite (talk) 18:12, 4 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Ah, here we go, one we can actually see: Sharon Rosenthal, "New York Policeman Came Out of the Closet, Into the Spotlight," New York Daily News. Reprinted in the Lakeland Ledger, Jan. 3, 1982, pg. 6A. Carrite (talk) 18:16, 4 July 2016 (UTC)


 * Per the clear evidence of a GNG pass above, pinging, , for their further input. Carrite (talk) 18:18, 4 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Note also another New York Daily News Article which is showing in fully readable form as a graphic attached to the New York Daily News article mentioned above. List this as: Mary Ann Giordano, "I Am Proud of Being Gay: Cop; Asks Passage of Rights Bill," New York Daily News, Nov. 21, 1981, pg. ???. Carrite (talk) 20:28, 4 July 2016 (UTC)


 * As I have greatly expanded this stub article, I'll ping the nominator,, and another commenter that I missed, , for their reconsideration as well. Carrite (talk) 20:31, 4 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Keep The article has been significantly improved by . GNG is clearly met. —&thinsp;JJMC89&thinsp; (T·C) 00:40, 5 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Keep, Carrite demonstrated notability, WP:HEY applies. Also, a look at Google Books suggests there is a lot more potential sources, even if offline link. Vague and copypasted pile-on delete votes by the usual suspects should be ignored. Cavarrone  07:11, 5 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Keep I am usually not in favour of articles of people post 1960s where the only claim of significance is the subject's gender/orientation/religion. However, over here I find 2 claims which ensures that this is not a BLP1E
 * The coverage has enough depth.,, , ,.
 * The coverage is not a one time event and there seems to be repeated coverage once in several years. There is some impact of the subject's work. This passes GNG
 * The subject is recognized for being the co-founder of GOAL and his contributions have been deemed to be notable by the congress as it elected to name a street after him.
 * This is a clear keep. --Lemongirl942 (talk) 09:35, 5 July 2016 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.