Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Indiana cop punished for giving an informal opinion on the civil rights act
A New Albany police officer's 30-day suspension for making a racially-charged statement has been upheld by the Indiana Court of Appeals.
In January 2010, Officer Jack Messer said to a group of fellow officers during a conversation about public housing, "The biggest mistake the government made was giving those people civil rights." Messer was referring to African-Americans. The conversation took place after roll call while Messer was on duty.
Messer later called his remark "stupid," and testified that he was trying to state that African-Americans have equal rights but have been held back by welfare and government housing.
The NAPD conducted an internal investigation and cleared Messer of wrong doing, but the Police Merit Commission issued a complaint. It found that Messer's original statement caused offense to members of the community, raised suspicions of racism in the department and was conduct unbecoming an officer.
Messer was suspended for 30 days. He appealed his case to the Indiana Court of Appeals, claiming his statement was speech protected by the First Amendment.
On Friday, the Appeals Court rejected Messer's argument.
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9 comments:
What he actually said was very offensive.
I believe what he meant was that government created a permanent underclass, which was a stupid thing to do (and evil).
So you misspeak, someone gets offended, you try to clear up what you really meant, but you are still sacrificed on the alter of P.C.
No free speech under the NEW WORLD ORDER and the NORTH AMERICAN(SOVIET)UNION
Anonymous 12:59 said...
"What he actually said was very offensive..."
Offensive only because we now live in a time when the truth is seen as offensive. In this case, what the officer said is a well-known fact that we are all aware of. Ignoring reality will not make it go away.
Truth and honesty have been replaced by political correctness. And, as evidenced by this legal decision, our courts are the last place one can seek justice.
"Political correctness is a far greater threat to our freedom and liberty than is terrorism..."
Personally I think he was being punished for what he said when he clarified his original misspoken thought.
The government does not like to be critisized and his clarification was dfinitely critical.
It depends what he meant by "civil rights". He was talking about public housing, which isn't, or shouldn't be a civil right. The government taking money from one person to "give" "free" housing to another is wrong. You can add welfare for life to that list too.
But saying it's good to have white only drinking fountains in a public park, or it's good to have a white only school in a mixed race neighborhood, or it's good to keep black from voting, even if they pay taxes, is pretty repugnant. I don't think he was talking about those civil rights.
And actually, anytime anyone says the government "gives" someone anything, it is pretty offensive.
no matter what you say there's always a lefty to take offense, it's a rule.
But the biggest mistake of all, was not keeping them slaves.
BTW, the first (official) slave owner in America was, a black man.
If this was an informal statement made privately (but while on the job) to other officers, how did it even become an issue?
Someone must have made it into one.
African-Americans have equal rights but have been held back by welfare and government housing.
So what is untrue about that statement? Must not state the truth I guess.
But he should have just said THAT, what he did say was pretty dumb!
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