Chicago Cop Cited For 'Abusive, Racist' Facebook Comments

CHICAGO, IL — The Civilian Office of Police Accountability has cited Chicago police Officer Brian J. Hansen for more than 60 rule violations. The agency said Hansen repeatedly posted insensitive racial and religious comments on Facebook. The Chicago Tribune first reported the story after obtaining a 95-page COPA report through an open-records request.

Hansen allegedly had a bumper sticker on the back of his SUV that had an image of a truck running over protesters, with the words, "All lives splatter. Nobody cares about your protest." COPA said the officer parked his vehicle with the sticker outside the Central District police station on State Street.

Hansen was taken off street duties and assigned to desk duty in August after being on the force for 25 years, according to the COPA report. The Chicago Tribune reported that police Superintendent Eddie Johnson has three months to send his recommendation to the Chicago Police Board on whether Hansen should be fired.

COPA said it was clear that Hansen couldn't provide unbiased law enforcement to Chicago residents of all ethic backgrounds. COPA called his posts "distasteful, abusive, racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic and discriminatory."

Hansen's lawyer could not be reached for comment, but the Tribune reported Hansen told investigators his posts were meant to be humorous. COPA said Hansen asserted that his off-duty actions were protected by the First Amendment.

The Tribune reported Hansen has been named in more than 50 complaints, from minor violations to excessive force claims, according to police records. He was also named in four lawsuits, including one in which he allegedly beat a protester with a baton in 2012.

COPA has cited Hansen for 62 rule violations, the majority of which involved Facebook posts and comments between 2015 and 2017.

Image via Chicago Police Department