Via Broward Palm Beach New Times:
Three Fort Lauderdale Police officers have been fired and another resigned before he could be fired after an internal affairs investigation found that the cops spent time on the taxpayer clock sending one another racist text messages and sharing a racially charged video using racial slurs and images.
The officers’ names and ages are Alex Alvarez, 22, Jason Holding, 31, James Wells, 30, and Christopher Sousa, 25. Their text messages include constant use of the word “nigger,” including at least one mention of “killing niggers.” Also shared among the group was a video – apparently created by Alvarez – of a mock movie trailer that described President Barack Obama with racial slurs as a movie villain who had to be stopped by “savage hunters.” The video goes on to show images of black people getting attacked by dogs and gun-toting white people.
When they were confronted by investigators, three of the officers suggested that the video was a regrettable attempt at humor, and that their use of the word “nigger” was not reflective of their true feelings about African-Americans.
In addition to racist statements about black people, Hispanics and homosexuals were also targeted, as well as coworkers.
Sousa was found to have texted, “Holdings we are coming and drinking all your beer and killing niggers.” Sousa later said he did it to “fit in” on the force, and that he regretted using the terms. He said his best friend since third grade is black.
Wells texted the word “niggers” and “nigger lover” dismissively and also “razzed” Alvarez by calling him a “faggot.” He called some of his coworkers “lazy fucks” and used the term “retarded brown.”
Wells later said that the texts were jokes — relief from a stressful job, and that they were never intended to become public. He said they did not reflect his true feelings toward black people.
Alvarez is the only one who wasn’t fired because he resigned before he had to make a sworn statement about his conduct and the allegations.
At a press conference Friday afternoon, Fort Lauderdale mayor Jack Seiler told reporters that the four officers were not representative of the entire police department.
“We have a very diverse police force,” Seiler said.
Take a look at their disgusting and racist mock movie trailer video.
http://youtu.be/-uvuRXQKSms
Wow. So scary to see the people who are supposed to protect us, say such hurtful and disgusting things. It just makes you really wonder how many cops out there are like this…but haven’t been caught yet. Scary stuff.