Two Memphis police officers have been suspended without pay after posting a Snapchat that the department’s director called “disgusting.”
https://t.co/cSHAkgzig0 Two Memphis Police Officers Suspended Over Racist Snapchat pic.twitter.com/eiOiSeV1Zi
— Noella (@QueenLook2) July 10, 2016
The Snapchat in question features a man pointing a gun at an emoji of an African-American man running. A Memphis police officer took the photo, and a second officer posted the picture on Twitter. Both have been suspended without pay.
The Snapchat was taken the night that five Dallas police officers were killed in a sniper attack, and days after two African-Americans were killed on camera at the hands of police.
"The image is disgusting and will not be tolerated" said Interim Memphis Police Department Director Mike Rallings, according to WHBQ. "We are certainly responsible for the decisions we make, and we are held to a higher standard.”
According to the Memphis Police Department Policy, "employees must avoid any conduct which could compromise the integrity of the Department. This includes conduct related to materials posted on personal websites, social media, twitter, Facebook ... etc."
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
