Florida Police Racist Texts - Four Florida cops, one of which was a forced resignation, were fired Friday after investigators found the officers having exchanged racist texts some time during their line of duty. Apart from the Florida Police racist texts, one of the officers was also found to have created an N-word-laced video, according to Fort Lauderdale police.
The officers behind the Florida Police racist texts were identified as Jason Holding, 31, James Wells, 30, and Christopher Sousa, 25, who patrolled a predominantly black neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale. They were reportedly terminated for "department misconduct" after an internal affairs investigation that began in October of 2014, said Chief Frank Adderley at a news conference.
The investigation into the Florida Police racist texts found the officers engaging in "conduct prejudicial to the good of the order of the police department."
Though the fourth officer, Alex Alvarez, has resigned, authorities say he would have been terminated if he had not left.
In the Florida Police racist texts, the investigation revealed the former officers using racially derogatory terms while referring to people they encountered during duty.
In Alvarez's movie trailer-style' video with the title "The Hoods," the officer used offensive language and racially insensitive material from the movie "Django Unchained."
It had images of attacks on minorities including one of black men being bitten by a dog and looking down the barrel of a gun, a person in a white Ku Klux Klan hood, and images of Obama wi th gold-capped teeth. It also talked about getting drunk and "killing n*****," according to investigative documents.
The Florida Police racist texts were found to have also "criticized their co-workers'" grammar, appearance, work ethic. They even talked about killing and injuring black people, CBS reported.
One message from the Florida Police racist texts also referred to an entire shift as "lazy f****," stated the investigation documents.
The documents also say that in another text, Sousa wrote, "Holdings we are coming and drinking all your beer and killing n******."
In another, Holding said, "Id have that noose ready (sic)', according to the Sun-Sentinel.
"There was no criminal behavior detected during this investigation, however, the four officers' conduct was inexcusable and there is zero tolerance for this kind of behavior in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department," said Chief Franklin Adderley to reporters.
"Its attempt was to damage the image of our agency and I just hope that the people and the public realize that we're not going to tolerate it and anyone that's engaged in this behavior will be addressed immediately," he added of the Florida Police racist texts.
The Fort Lauderdale Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement that the officers deserve their due process, CNN affiliate WSVN reported.
"The Fraternal Order of Police is a multicultural organization which does not tolerate racism," said the group's president, Jack Lokeinsky. "Our officers take great pride in our commitment to diversity. Our dedicated officers have positive relationships with residents in every community we serve."
The investigation into the Florida Police racist texts started after Alvarez' former fiancee saw the messages and came forward. During the investigation, the officers were removed from contact with the public, according to NBC Miami.
According to CNN, the ex-fiancee discovered the Florida Police racist texts when they agreed, while they were still a couple, to check each others' phones. According to the woman, she thought their behavior was wrong but she didn't tell anyone for fear of getting hurt. When her 10-month relationship with the officer ended, she went to the authorities.
The Florida Police racist texts have resulted in the south-east Florida police department having created a yearly and mandatory human diversity class for all officers, reports the Daily Mail. The department currently has around 500 agents.
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