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Kissimmee Police Department
A Kissimmee police officer was fired on Jan. 14 after it was determined that he violated standards for police department conduct after he made politically and racial offensive Facebook posts.
Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell fired Officer Andrew Johnson after the agency’s Internal Affairs unit received an email from a source who wanted to remain anonymous, presented numerous Facebook posts that were in violation of his employment.
The source wrote in an email, “This officer is a very big problem. Not only is he a very big supporter of what happened recently in dc (Washington D.C.) but as you’ll see by the attached screen shots, has posted some very inappropriate things over time and in having conversations face to face with this man has said some massively concerning things as well.”
According to the email, one Facebook post stated, “John F. Kennedy (D) implemented affirmative action. In my opinion this was one of the great divides in America. Rid Affirmative Action and start equality?
Another post stated, “I’m selling my white privilege card. It’s just over 40 years old and it hasn’t done a damn thing for me. No inheritance, no free college, no free food, no free housing, ect. I may even be willing to do an even trade for a race card. Those seem way more useful and more widely accepted. Interested? Contact me on my –non-Obama cell phone that I have to pay for every month.
Another post showed a handicapped parking spot with the handicapped wheelchair icon that stated, “BLM (Black Lives Matter) activists paint street mural in support of Jacob Blake.”
Blake was partially paralyzed after a bullet damaged his spinal cord when he was shot by a police officer in in Kenosha, Wis.
On Jan.6, the day U.S. Capitol riot, Johnson posted, “The silent majority will rise!! Day one of the Revolutionary War!! Hang on, it’s only just begun.”
Johnson was relieved of duty on Jan. 12 and then terminated by O’Dell two days later. Because he was still a probationary police officer, he won’t be entitled to a grievance process.
“The posts he made do not align with our core values here and the Kissimmee Police Department and the decision was made to terminate this probationary employee on Thursday, January 14, 2021,” a Kissimmee Police Department spokesperson said.
