13 Philly Cops Fired Over Bigoted, Violent Facebook Posts

PHILADELPHIA — More than a dozen Philadelphia Police officers will be fired as the result of an investigation into bigoted and violent Facebook posts, officials said Thursday. The announcement comes on the heels of a report by the Plain View Project, which examined police social media behavior in Philadelphia and other cities.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said in a press conference Thursday afternoon that 13 officers will be fired after 30-day suspensions due to the content of their social media posts.

Four others will get 30-day suspensions, but will not be fired.

Ross said 320 active duty officers were included in the report, which led to 72 officers being placed on desk duty.

After weighing constitutional rights and the integrity of the department, many of the 72 will be disciplined with penalties ranging from reprimands to five days suspension.

Ross said the posts included Islamophobia, encouragement of police brutality, calling African Americans "thugs," homophobia, and suggested violence against transgender people.

The posts in the Plain View Project date back to 2010, Ross said.

You can see the full post database compiled by the project here.

Of the 72 officers mentioned, none denied they posted such content.

"I continue to be very angered and disappointed by these posts, many of which, in my view, violate the basic tenants of human decency," Ross said Thursday. "And I am saddened by the fact that there are even some who would attempt to justify such hateful and vile behavior."

Ross said the impacts are not only felt in the community, but in the department, saying the races, religions, and genders mentioned in the posts are also represented in department officers, staffers, and more.

"It's just not about any particular group," Ross said, "It's not about everyone."

Ross said each member of the department will be required to watch a training video outlining social media and off-duty policies regarding race, ethnicity, code, and conduct.