The Philadelphia Police Department plans to fire 13 cops after it launched an investigation last month into racist and violent comments posted by cops on social media, reports the New York Daily News.
Richard Ross, the city’s police commissioner, said at a news conference Thursday that another four officers would receive 30-day suspensions before returning to service, and a range of less harsh punishments would be dished to other officers.
“I continue to be very angered and disappointed by these posts, many of which in my view violate the basic tenants of human decency,” Ross told reporters. “And I am saddened by the fact that there are even some who would attempt to justify such hate and vile behavior.” The department placed 72 officers on desk duty a month ago as it proceeded with the investigation. Ross said all but three of those taken off the street would face some form of discipline, such as five-day suspensions. He also said the department had to consider constitutional speech rights when determining punishments. He did not name the officers who will be sacked.
The police force opened the investigation after the Plain View Project unearthed Facebook posts from more than 300 Philadelphia officers that researchers felt could harm trust in local law enforcement. One officer posted a picture of the Confederate flag. Another posted a meme that said, “Death To Islam.” Numerous posts in the database described Black men as “animals.”
Lawyer Emily Baker-White launched the Plain View project in 2017, and it went live at the beginning of June. When the department launched its investigation, Baker-White told the Daily News she was “encouraged” by the response of Ross and other public officials to the project. Ross said the investigation, conducted with the law firm Ballard Spahr, is not yet completed. He said the department will continue to investigate “far less egregious” posts from officers who did not receive suspensions. Ross also said the department would initiate sensitivity training for officers and continue to attempt to repair trust with the community.
