Florida police union chief is suspended after he encouraged cops from departments accused of misconduct to apply for jobs in his state instead
- The president of a Fraternal Order of Police chapter was suspended by a sheriff’s office on Wednesday due to social media posts
- Lt. Bert Gamin’s posts encouraged officers linked to departments accused of using excessive force during recent protests to apply for jobs in Florida
- He wrote: ‘Hey Buffalo 57 … and Atlanta 6 … we are hiring in Florida. Lower taxes, no spineless leadership or dumb mayors rambling on at press conferences’
- In Buffalo, New York, 57 police officers stepped down from the department’s crowd control unit last week, objecting to the suspensions of two cops
- It came after the officers were seen shoving a 75-year-old protester who fell and injured his head
- In Atlanta, two officers were fired and face criminal charges after they used tasers on students pulled from a car. Four other cops were placed on desk duty
- Gamin also posted: ‘Minneapolis officers… we will not disband our agencies or give in… we are hiring in Florida’
- It was after the city announced plans to transform law enforcement following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of cops including Derek Chauvin
The president of a Fraternal Order of Police chapter along Florida’s Space Coast was suspended by a sheriff’s office as it investigates him for encouraging officers linked to departments accused of using excessive force to apply for jobs in Florida.
The message posted over the weekend on the Brevard FOP Facebook page said, ‘Hey Buffalo 57 … and Atlanta 6 … we are hiring in Florida. Lower taxes, no spineless leadership or dumb mayors rambling on at press conferences … Plus … we got your back!’ It ended with the hashtags ‘lawandorderflorida’ and ‘movetowhereyouare.’
Lt. Bert Gamin also posted: ‘Minneapolis officers… we will not disband our agencies or give in… we are hiring in Florida.’
It follows the in-custody death of George Floyd on May 25 which sparked protests around the country to charge the Minneapolis Police Department cops responsible and defund the police.
The president of a Fraternal Order of Police chapter along Florida’s Space Coast was suspended by a sheriff’s office on Wednesday due to social media posts
He wrote: ‘Hey Buffalo 57 … and Atlanta 6 … we are hiring in Florida. Lower taxes, no spineless leadership or dumb mayors rambling on at press conferences’
In Buffalo, New York, dozens of police officers stepped down from the department´s crowd control unit last week, objecting to the suspensions of two fellow officers in the shoving of a 75-year-old protester who fell and injured his head (pictured)
In Buffalo, New York, dozens of police officers stepped down from the department’s crowd control unit last week, objecting to the suspensions of two fellow officers in the shoving of a 75-year-old protester who fell and injured his head.
In Atlanta, two officers were fired and face criminal charges after video showed them using stun guns on two college students pulled from a car that was in traffic during a large protest. Four other officers were placed on desk duty.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey announced the suspension of Gamin at news conference Tuesday.
‘I’m embarrassed by it. I’m infuriated by it, and I’m having it investigated,’ Ivey said about the Facebook posts.
The posts have since been deleted.
Ivey’s agency is conducting an internal investigation.
After social media users were disgusted after learning about their apparent hiring process, Gamin defended himself.
Gamin also posted on Facebook about Minneapolis Police Department: It was after the city announced plans to transform law enforcement following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of cops including Derek Chauvin
In Atlanta, two officers were fired and face criminal charges after video showed them using stun guns on two college students pulled from a car that was in traffic during a large protest. Four other officers were placed on desk duty
‘The police had the legal authority in both cases,’ Gamin said in an email to Florida Today. ‘At the time the warnings were provided, the citizens were already breaking the law. Those citizens chose to disregard the warnings.
‘It led directly to escalations and confrontations with the police. When we issue lawful commands/warnings, citizens have a responsibility to comply. The reality is failure to comply leads to escalation.’
The sheriff distanced himself from Gamin on Monday.
‘While I absolutely understand everyone’s concerns regarding this post and it’s inflammatory nature, please understand and accept that our agency had nothing to do with it’s occurrence and does not condone it’s content in any way!’ Ivey posted on Facebook.
Earlier in the week, Gamin, president of the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Brevard County, Florida had called his post ‘in poor taste’ in a statement sent to local news media.
Departments all over the US have come under scrutiny after social media videos show some officers’ appealing behavior at protests and beyond. Some others who haven’t been caught provoking confrontations simply look on.