Police officer fired for tick tock video

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Dude653

Senior Member
Mar 19, 2011
12,668
1,098
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#1
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/former-police-officer-claims-fired-081152707.html
This officer was fired on accusation of racism for calling out LeBron James on the subject of what in my opinion was a justified shooting.
However the police department he worked for claims he was fired for knowingly violating the department's social media policies.
So what are your thoughts? Was he a victim of canceled culture or was he firing justified?
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
939
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#2
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO


ARTICLE I DECLARATION OF RIGHTS




Section 9. FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.
 

Dude653

Senior Member
Mar 19, 2011
12,668
1,098
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#3
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO


ARTICLE I DECLARATION OF RIGHTS




Section 9. FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.
Well yeah but one can also argue that an employer in this case the police department can enforce social media policies at their own discretion
Just looking at both sides of the issue
 
Sep 22, 2022
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#4
I don't know the exact wording of the policy stating officers can't use social media, but if it was not mentioned that termination is the consequence for first time offenders then I would say the punishment is a little harsh.

I've seen cops in other cities do exponentially worse than make a TikTok video and still keep their jobs. It just seems odd that doing this is that egregious of a police policy violation.

Then again, cops have qualified immunity which essentially allows them to commit exponentially more egregious violations and keep their job... So I shouldn't compare apples to oranges with offenses. It's unfortunate the cop can't use his get-out-of-jail-free card and claim qualified immunity for his policy violation.
 

ZNP

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2020
36,514
6,683
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#5
I was a teacher. We had very severe policy concerning social media.

1. You could not say that you were a teacher in that school system because only those whose job it was to speak for the school system could do that.

2. If you said or did something that would offend parents of kids at your school you could get fired. So if you identified as pro life you could see vile attacks coming to the school over your post and the principal would be very unhappy with you. So even if you didn't identify yourself as a teacher your students would find you and identify you.

3. There were other rules that you were given about what you could or couldn't do.

So then unless you are an idiot take proper precautions.
 
Sep 22, 2022
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#6
I don't know the exact wording of the policy stating officers can't use social media, but if it was not mentioned that termination is the consequence for first time offenders then I would say the punishment is a little harsh.

I've seen cops in other cities do exponentially worse than make a TikTok video and still keep their jobs. It just seems odd that doing this is that egregious of a police policy violation.

Then again, cops have qualified immunity which essentially allows them to commit exponentially more egregious violations and keep their job... So I shouldn't compare apples to oranges with offenses. It's unfortunate the cop can't use his get-out-of-jail-free card and claim qualified immunity for his policy violation.
I'm watching the Dr. Phil episode right now and there was more information given. Apparently, the former mayor who is now a state legislature, reports this officer was warned about his social media policy violations.

So what ended up happening here, in my opinion, is that the mayor found a legal loop-hole to terminate the officer. BECAUSE of the content and the fact the officer had a history of posting social media content, the mayor can then claim it wasn't for the content but rather the repeated violations of his social media postings which he was warned about under a "last chance agreement".

If it's true that he was under the "last chance agreement", and insisted to post, then unfortunately the cop gets what he deserves. He chose to work in an environment that restricts social media. No one to blame but himself.
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,219
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#7
As an employer, if an employee did or said something that brought a negative image to my company, he would be on the street in a heartbeat. I don't care where he said or did it. You are free to say or do what you wish, but when you do or say it, be willing to accept the consequences.
 

Dude653

Senior Member
Mar 19, 2011
12,668
1,098
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#8
The officer insinuated that LeBron doesn't really care about black people's lives because the officer was protecting another black person's life
This is an emotionally charged issue for a lot of people so the officer should have known this was going to be problematic for him
 
Mar 4, 2020
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#9
He was a police officer talking about race; that's all they needed to come after him. While he wasn't racist, he made himself a target. People saw it, formed a mob, and came after him because many people are anti-police and love stoking racial division in the USA. It isn't even that this is a majority position, it is more like that activists and extremists are the loudest. They form a mob and coordinate their efforts to come after people.

On that note, I hope he finds an employer who won't destroy his career over a TikTok video and continues to make TikToks if that's what makes him happy.
 

Dude653

Senior Member
Mar 19, 2011
12,668
1,098
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#10
I don't believe he had racist intent but I think it's a bad idea for cops to be going on tick tock in uniform discussing sensitive racial topics
 

Dude653

Senior Member
Mar 19, 2011
12,668
1,098
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#11
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO


ARTICLE I DECLARATION OF RIGHTS




Section 9. FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.
An employer reserves the right to fire someone if the person's behavior reflects negatively on the company .
But with police unions, I'm surprised he got fired.
Like those two Milwaukee police officers who hand it over a 14 year old child to a serial killer and got an award for it. And then they wonder why America doesn't like cops