SEATTLE — A Seattle police officer has been fired following an internal investigation that found he violated the department’s social media policy by posting profane and politically charged comments on Instagram. The Seattle Times reports the posts including rants against “illegal immigration” and a post that “appeared to endorse violence” against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama.
The officer, who has not been identified by name, was terminated after admitting that his statements on Instagram “negatively impacted the Department’s ability to serve the public, as well as that the postings were unprofessional,” according to a case summary posted this week on the Office of Police Accountability website.
The internal investigation was opened in 2018 and findings were issued to Chief Carmen Best in November.
The investigation was opened after an acquaintance of the officer complained anonymously about social media posts that “attacked(ed) certain groups of peoples … (and) people’s political views.”
