Crime & Safety

Pleasantville Cop Suspended For ‘Despicable’ Obama Slurs on Facebook

(This story, including the headline, is by Michael Nocella)

A Pleasantville police officer has been placed on administrative leave for posting racist comments on Facebook about President Barack Obama that were “despicable” and “totally unacceptable,” Pleasantville Police Chief Richard Love said.

Officer Peter Burns allegedly published the post on Wednesday, Dec. 11 on a Facebook profile page he operated under the name “Coon Trapper.” The infamous post wasrecently obtained by The Journal News. It has since been taken down.

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“The fact that he (Obama) is still alive bewilders me,” Burns wrote,according to Lohud.com. “Go die in a shallow grave you Muslim commie...”

The Pleasantville Police Department said it was shown an image of the post on Monday, Dec. 16 and took action shortly after. Love announced Burns’ suspension on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

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“The Village of Pleasantville Police Department was recently made aware of certain despicable statements made in a Facebook posting under an alias,” Love said in a press release. “These statements were allegedly made by a Pleasantville police officer. Such statements are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

“The police department has commenced an internal investigation into this matter,” Love said. “This investigation is presently ongoing. Following the conclusion of the investigation and the examination of its results, the police department will consider all legal options, including the possibility of commencing disciplinary proceedings against the police officer which could lead to his dismissal.”


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