Anti-Police Post By Levittown Teacher Under Investigation

LEVITTOWN, NY — Levittown Public Schools officials are investigating a teacher's "offensive" and "hostile" social media post criticizing police following the riots at the U.S. Capitol this week. A high school teacher in North Babylon was also reprimanded for an "inappropriate social media post."

The Levittown teacher, who works at Division Avenue High School, wrote a Facebook post denouncing what appears to be a photo of a Capitol police officer posing with someone inside the Capitol building after it was stormed.

The post reads: “Cop taking a selfie with a terrorist. F--- you Thin Blue Line. F--- your Blue Lives. F--- every single one of you back to elementary school who voted for him. I don’t give a flying f--- that you know a good cop.”

The post was later deleted.

Schools Superintendent Tonie McDonald said in a letter posted on the Levittown Public Schools website Thursday that the “sentiments expressed in the post are not those of the district” and do not “align with its values.”

McDonald said because the post was written on the employee's private Facebook page, "this employee is guaranteed the right to the freedom of speech."

McDonald did not comment further, saying the situation is a personnel matter. She did not respond to Patch’s inquiry about the post. Instead, Patch was contacted by a public relations firm representing the school district. The firm declined to comment beyond McDonald's letter.

The school district's Board of Education published a letter on its website Friday.

"A staff member posted what many perceive to be an offensive and hostile comment on social media," the letter reads. "We are disheartened in the content of the message and it does not represent who we are as a district or community. We take this situation seriously and the district is thoroughly investigating the matter.

“We understand it may be frustrating that the district cannot answer specific questions. However, please know, that the well-being of all parties is our main concern."

A group of parents and community members denounced the teacher's comments during a demonstration at Division Avenue High School Friday morning.

A North Babylon High School teacher's comments on Wednesday's events in the national's capital also promoted a response from officials in that district Friday.

"If this isn't white privilege, I don't know what is," the teacher wrote the post obtained by Patch. "If these people were black...this would be an entirely different scenario. Where were the police? How does a violent armed mob break into the Capitol so easily?"

The teacher's post on their personal Facebook page also takes aim at President Trump.

"This is all on Trump," it reads. "He instigated this. He's human filth...He's absolutely enjoying this. F--- him and f--- anyone who thinks this is OK."

North Babylon Superintendent Glen Eschbach addressed what he called the "an inappropriate social media post" in a letter to the community Friday.

"While all employees have a right to free speech, the sentiments shared in the post are not aligned with our district’s core values, nor do they represent the spirit of tolerance and understanding that we try to instill in our own students," Eschbach said. "I know what occurred in our nation’s capital two days ago is frightening and upsetting however, we must lead by example in our own words and actions and demonstrate to students respect and support for one another, even in the face of what differences we may have."