Officer fired after Facebook posts about politics, racial issues
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KISSIMMEE, Florida (WESH) — A Kissimmee police officer was fired for his recent posts on social media, many of which touched on the presidential election and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Kissimmee police leaders say Andrew Johnson was let go after a concerned citizen brought the posts to the attention of the department.
After police received the complaint, Johnson was placed on paid leave and two days later he was fired.
The department said the person who told them about Johnson’s posts said they were concerned the officer was “incapable of doing his job without bias.”
Officials said the posts Johnson made on his Facebook page don’t align with the core values of the Kissimmee Police Department.
A total of 30 screenshots of posts made by Johnson were sent to the department, which said in an internal affairs report that it verified their authenticity.
The posts touched on issues related to the Capitol riots, the 2020 presidential election, the Black Lives Matter movement and abortion.
Johnson shared a meme on his Facebook page with the words “BLM Activists in Wisconsin paint street mural in support of Jacob Blake” next to a photo of a handicapped parking spot.
Johnson also made several posts that indicated he believed a civil war is coming in the United States.
According to documents from the Kissimmee Police Department, Johnson was still in a probationary period with the department, so he is unable to appeal his firing.
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