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I'm stealing this from the O.com itself.....
http://www.officer.com/news/11707064...cebook-comment
I have no idea what the officer was like on the street but its turns out he got 18 years flushed down the toilet for posting on Facebook.
http://www.officer.com/news/11707064...cebook-comment
The Elgin Police Department has fired an officer for making disparaging remarks on Facebook, including a comment about the Ferguson, Mo. teen shot dead by police, officials said.
Officer Jason Lentz lost his job because of conduct that undermined the city's credibility and violations of the police department's social media guidelines, according to department officials.
Lentz, an 18-year veteran of the force, allegedly made numerous online remarks that investigators found to be "potentially inappropriate," according to documents released by the city.
The department put him on leave Aug. 21 after he allegedly made a provocative comment in response to a news story about slain Ferguson teen Michael Brown purportedly stealing cigars.
"Hmmm ... innocent victim my ***," the comment said. "Did society a favor."
Lentz's attorney, Tim O'Neil, could not be reached Monday evening but has previously said that Lentz's alleged comments were protected speech because the officer made them on a private account on which he did not identify himself as an Elgin employee, and because he was speaking about a matter of public concern.
In a statement, Elgin police Chief Jeffrey Swoboda gave his justification for the firing.
"Our relationship with the community is based upon trust," he said. " When an officer violates this trust, action must be taken."
Copyright 2014 - Chicago Tribune
Officer Jason Lentz lost his job because of conduct that undermined the city's credibility and violations of the police department's social media guidelines, according to department officials.
Lentz, an 18-year veteran of the force, allegedly made numerous online remarks that investigators found to be "potentially inappropriate," according to documents released by the city.
The department put him on leave Aug. 21 after he allegedly made a provocative comment in response to a news story about slain Ferguson teen Michael Brown purportedly stealing cigars.
"Hmmm ... innocent victim my ***," the comment said. "Did society a favor."
Lentz's attorney, Tim O'Neil, could not be reached Monday evening but has previously said that Lentz's alleged comments were protected speech because the officer made them on a private account on which he did not identify himself as an Elgin employee, and because he was speaking about a matter of public concern.
In a statement, Elgin police Chief Jeffrey Swoboda gave his justification for the firing.
"Our relationship with the community is based upon trust," he said. " When an officer violates this trust, action must be taken."
Copyright 2014 - Chicago Tribune
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