A New Jersey police officer wrote on Facebook that Black Lives Matter protesters are “terrorists” who couldn’t care less if they died if they were fired – a step left by their lawyer ” Gone.”
Hopewell Township Police Officer Sarah Irwin was terminated on Friday through a unanimous vote of the Town Committee, which accepted a hearing recommendation, NJ.com reported.
Another officer, Sergeant. Mandy Gray was demoted and suspended for six months for responding to a comment on Ervin’s June 2020 post, his attorney Frank Crivley told the Post on Tuesday.
Crivelli said of Gray that “the fact that he supported his position as a fellow officer was the reason they actually suspended him.”
Writing on Facebook under the username Sarah Elizabeth, Irwin said her children were crying for not going to work on June 8 – two weeks after George Floyd’s death in police custody in Minneapolis sparked nationwide heated protests.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt like I did last night,” read Irwin’s post. “And then I saw the people I know and the others I disturbed. I love the police family just like me. “
Irwin asked others to “think” before sharing the post on social media platforms.
“I’ve seen a lot of Black Life hashtags in these posts,” the post continued. “Just tell you – they are terrorists. They hate me They hate my uniform. They don’t care if I die. “
Six township employees, including five members of the police department, were placed on leave to support Erwin’s post, Trentonian reported In june.
Hopewell Township Police Chief Lance Maloney, who has since retired, declined to identify the employees at the time, but a source identified him as Gray, Detective Mark Panzano, Officers Erwin and John Ferner, Dispatcher Gregory Peck and Public Works as truck driver Steve Harbut. The newspaper reported.
According to the report, Irwin urged anyone supporting Black Leaves Matter to “unfriend” him, prompting Panzano, Gray, Furner, Peck and Herbut to show support for the post.
Department officials promoted Sergeant to Gray last year Announced on facebook Meanwhile, in February 2019. Panjano received a letter of appreciation for his actions during a house fire earlier this month.
Erwin’s post was investigated by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, but no criminal charges were laid. NJ.com reported that Basti administered discipline on Friday.
Arvin was appointed by the department in 2001, while Gray was employed since 1999. Both had “absolutely impeccable records”, with no internal case complaints prior to the Facebook post.
“They are trying to set an example out of them, and in my view, they are leaving too far,” Crivelli said of the township’s decision.
Appeals continue in Superior Court, citing First Amendment concerns on behalf of Irwin and Gray. Erwin said Irwin wants his job back, while Gray wants his rank restored and his six-month suspension has been revoked, Crevelly said.
Panzano, Ferner, Peck and Harbat received written reprimands and were employed by the township, Crevelli said.
Hopewell Township Police Director Robert Karmazin, who took over the department in November, made a statement to The Post Tuesday when reached for comment.
“As the case is under active litigation, the Hopewell Township Committee, Hopewell Township Police Department and Hopewell Township staff will have no comment at this time,” the statement said.
Julie Blake, a member of the township committee acting as mayor, declined to comment on Monday, quoting NJ.com’s report.
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