The New Orleans Police Department Monday suspended a police officer indefinitely without pay after he posted incendiary comments online about Florida teen Travyon Martin.
Officer Jason Giroir is currently under investigation for saying in the post that the slain boy "acted like a thug and died like one."
The 35-year-old officer made the comment Sunday night in an article about a rally for Martin on CNN affiliated website WWL.
When a reader termed Giroir's comments as racist, Giroir replied: "Eddie come on down with a "Hoodie" and you can join Martin in HELL and talk about your racist stories."
Michelle Reyes Giroir, the officer's wife, also posted a similar comment which read: "He acted like a thug and died like one!"
According to a statement from the New Orleans police, Giroir admitted that he posted comments on the news website.
Ronal Serpas, the police superintendent, announced the suspension of Giroir Monday at around 3 p.m. in a news conference.
"Giroir comments have given me grave concern regarding his fitness for duty. Because of this, I have suspended Giroir without pay, effective immediately," Serpas said in the statement.
"To say that I'm angry is an understatement. I'm furious. Giroir embarrassed the department by his "insensitive, harmful and offensive comments," Serpas said.
Giroir's attorney Eric Hessler said the officer spoke to NOPD investigators and confessed that he posted the comments, NOLA.comreported.
"His statement is, 'Yes, I did it. He certainly didn't mean it as a racial comment, as an offensive comment, although it came out that way. He acknowledges he should have chosen better words. I couldn't agree with him more," Hessler said adding that "Giroir is not a racist."
"It was a boneheaded comment. He admits so."
Martin,17, was shot dead last month by a 28-year-old neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Florida.
George Zimmerman, the shooter, gunned down unarmed Martin as he was walking through a gated community carrying a bag of candies and ice tea for his brother from a convenience store. However, Zimmerman has not been arrested and, according to the police, he shot Martin in self defense.
SOURCE:IBTimes
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