Warren police officer fired for racist Facebook comments

Warren Police Car
Photo credit Mike Campbell / WWJ

WARREN, Mich. (WWJ) -- A Warren police officer has been fired over a racist tirade on social media earlier this month.

The officer, whose name has not been made public, is accused of leaving racist comments on a Facebook post regarding a local news story, saying that black children were “low-life thugs” and that their only ambition was to be a rapper or a basketball player or drug dealer.

Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer says his department received a complaint from a woman on June 14 concerning the officer’s comments on social media the day before, which prompted an internal investigation and placed the officer on administrative leave.

Dwyer says after interviewing the woman and the officer, they found him to be in violation of Warren Police Department policies and the officer was terminated on Tuesday.

“It’s an embarrassment and he tarnished the reputation of the Warren Police Department, without question. We don’t tolerate that type of behavior, on or off-duty," Dwyer told WWJ.

“These types of actions will not be tolerated by Commissioner Dwyer or by the City of Warren Police Department. They do not reflect the men and women of this Department, nor the values of this Department,” the department said in a press release. “This appropriate action demonstrates how seriously the City of Warren Police Department views statement or acts of racism by any of its members. They will not be tolerated.”

In addition to his comments about black children, the officer also said he “was glad” he was not black because he would kill himself.  He also claimed black people are “the biggest racist people in the world.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: Mike Campbell / WWJ