Update, Monday night: A Sterling Heights Police officer who was suspended without pay for a racist posting on Facebook has resigned, the department said Monday.
(Photo: Sterling Heights Police Department)
The post is a meme, a now-infamous image of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, with a line reading: "When you gotta change a tire but dont wanna get your trousers dirty."
A department statement says:
"During the course of the Police Department’s internal investigation, and prior to disciplinary action, the police officer in question resigned. This incident is confirmation that the City must remain vigilant in identifying and rooting out such behavior, which has no place in a municipal organization that serves an incredibly diverse population."
Original article, Feb. 25:
A Sterling Heights police officer is been suspended without pay during an investigation of a racist post on his private Facebook page.
"Completely unacceptable" post on a Sterling Heights police officer's Facebook page (Photo: WXYZ)
The post is a meme, a now-infamous image of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, with a line reading: "When you gotta change a tire but dont wanna get your trousers dirty."
WXYZ -TV (Channel 7) on Tuesday contacted the Sterling Heights Police Department with a report that the post had been published on an officer’s private Facebook page, said Sterling Heights Police Lt. Mario Bastianelli.
... The post was not visible on the officer’s Facebook page when police sought it out after being contacted by WXYZ, Bastianelli said.
The officer was placed on leave Tuesday.
Depending on the outcome of the investigation and whether it’s confirmed the officer published the post, the officer could face punishment up to termination, Bastianelli said.
The lieutenant called the post "completely unacceptable."
