Three "Good" Cops of the Fort Lauderdale PD fired after racist texts, video discovered...

stringer bell
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edited March 2015 in For The Grown & Sexy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO4Cgg2f8H4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC-w8Cqk6Ew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYibMFu4cVs


sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-lauderdale-police-probe-20150320-story.html
Ft. Lauderdale cops out after racist texts, video discovered

Three Fort Lauderdale police officers were fired and one resigned after a five-month investigation into personal cellphone text messages and a video that city officials called “racist” and “offensive” during a news conference Friday.

Two Fort Lauderdale police officers were relieved from duty Oct. 17 and two others were assigned to desk work that month. Since then, Officer Alex Alvarez, 22, resigned and Officer James Wells, 30; Officer Jason Holding, 31 and Officer Christopher Sousa, 25, were fired, the city said.

The video, made to resemble a mock movie trailer and titled “The Hoods,” was produced by Alvarez, police said. It has an image of President Barack Obama wearing a gold chain and gold tooth caps; shows someone wearing a Ku Klux Klansman’s hood and an African-American man being bitten by a police dog.

“All four officers’ conduct involved racist text messages exchanged among themselves and former police officers,” said Police Chief Frank Adderley, who is African-American. He said the officers did not engage in criminal behavior, “but their conduct was inexcusable and there is zero tolerance for this kind of behavior in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.”

The video contained “a lot of hate” and “totally unacceptable material,” Adderley said. “Based on the investigation, they felt, in their words, that it was a joke.”

Also speaking about the results of the investigation Friday afternoon were Mayor Jack Seiler, who said the video “disgusted” him, and City Manager Lee Feldman.

When the offensive materials became known to command staff, Adderley said the officers who once patrolled the city’s African-American neighborhood and did investigations were removed from interacting with the public.

"The three officers were terminated due to sustained department misconduct charges,” Feldman said in a statement released to city employees. Those charges were conduct unbecoming a police officer and engaging in conduct prejudicial to the good order of the department. “It is extremely unfortunate that these acts of racism and hate ever took place.”

Officials said the case came to light when Alvarez’s former fiance complained about the materials.

“There is a video that is unacceptable, inappropriate and it is racist,” Seiler said. “There was no disagreement among leadership as to whether termination was appropriate.”

The agency and its force of 500 sworn officers have come under fire after the actions of a few of its members.

In February, cellphone video of a Fort Lauderdale police officer slapping a homeless man came to light and the agency said it was investigating the incident. Victor Ramirez, a veteran officer who slapped a 58-year-old man after knocking him to the ground, was put on administrative leave, Adderley said then.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #31 represents the former officers and released a statement that read in part: “The Fraternal Order of Police is a multicultural organization which does not tolerate racism. Our officers take great pride in our commitment to diversity. Our dedicated officers have positive relationships with residents in every community we serve.”

The FOP’s president, Sgt. Jack Lokeinsky, added, ““Everyone is entitled to due process and these officers have the right to a fair review of the facts. I cannot comment on the specifics of this case as I have not had the opportunity to review the file.”

Adderley said a human diversity class will be attended annually by every officer and that there will be enhanced screening of potential hires.


I'm sure those cops were the only bad apples in that pig department.. I'm also sure the rest of cops in that department are just great people and they treat all black people in that community well...

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