Racism - it’s as American as it gets and is deeply woven into the very fabric of our nation. While we are all right to advocate for new and improved policies to address police brutality and misconduct across the country, doing so without simultaneously addressing the ever-present realties of racism within our police departments is a mistake.
Below I have detailed just a sample of cases of racism in police departments from 2014-2015. We’re not talking about history here - these cases are right here, right now. Please feel free to add additional cases in the comments section below and I will keep this list updated.
San Francisco Police Department
Description: 14 San Francisco Police Officers were found to have sent outrageously racist texts between one another including texts in which they speak of killing African Americans, hanging African Americans, cross burnings, using racial slurs about African Americans inside of the department, comparing African Americans to animals, speaking of white power, and more.
People: Known officers include Michael Robison, Noel Schwab, Rain Daugherty and Michael Celis; also, former officer Ian Furminger, who is now in prison on corruption charges
Sources: SF Gate, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed.
Fort Lauderdale Police Department
Description: Officers within the department actually filmed a KKK promotional video. During an investigation, the officers were found to have texted one another racist messages about wanting to kill specific African Americans, “drinking beer and killing niggers,” having “wet dreams about killing niggers,” and more.
People: Officers Jason Holding, James Wells, Christopher Sousa, Alex Alvarez
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (Dayton, Ohio)
Description: Racist text messages include comments about “hanging niggers from trees” and one random message simply stated “I hate niggers. That’s all.”
People:Captain Tommy Flanders and Internal Affairs’s Michael Sollenberger and three other deputies in the department
Sources:WDTN Channel 2 News, Daily Mail
Miami Beach Police Department
Description: Over 540 text messages were discovered that included racist memes, racist graphics and cartoons, including many calling African Americans niggers, calling President Obama a nigger, and more.
People: Captain Alex Carulo, Major Angel Vazquez, and at least 15 other officers
Sources: NBC Miami, IB Times, Miami New Times
Ferguson Missouri Police Department
Description: During a federal investigation it was determined that seasoned, high-ranking officers in the department exchanged racist emails depicting President Obama as a monkey, stating that Black women who had abortions should receive crimestopper rewards, and more.
People: Captain Richard Henke and Sgt. William Mudd
Sources: Daily Kos, Washington Post
Lake Arthur Louisiana Police Department
Description: After a 2014 photo surfaced of Lake Arthur Detective Raymond Mott at a KKK rally, dressed in Klan attire, it was reported to his superiors who kept him on the department for nearly another year. It’s now being stated that Mott, who has openly admitted that was him at the rally, is actually one of the good guys of his department. OK.
People: Detective Raymond Mott
Sources: Daily Kos, Jennings Daily, VICE.
Fruitland Park Florida Police Department
Description: In 2009, Officer James Elkins of the Fruitland Park Police Department admitted he was the local leader of the KKK after a picture surfaced showing him in his KKK attire. Come to find out, his chief and a fellow officer were able to hide their involvement for five more years until they were discovered to be a part of the notorious domestic terrorist organization.
People: Chief David Borst and Officer George Hunnewell
Baton Rouge Police Department
Description: Officer Michael Elsbury was found sending racist text messages calling African American police officers in his department monkeys and niggers. In a separate thread he said “I wish someone would pull a Ferguson on them and take them out. I hate looking at those African monkeys at work.”
People: Officer Michael Elsbury - a 15 year vet on the force
Sources: Times Picayune, WBRZ Channel 2 News
Alexander City Alabama Police Department
Description: Even after being recorded calling a local African American man a nigger and speaking on a plot to kill him and manufacture evidence, Officer Troy Middlebrooks kept his job with his local police department.
People: Officer Troy Middlebrooks
Source: The Guardian
Edison New Jersey Police Department
Description: After Edison Police Officer Michael Dotro attempt to kill this police captain of his department by setting his home on fire, a full investigation also discovered a series of racist text messages between other officers using racial slurs to describe African Americans and other ethnic groups.
People: Officers Anthony Sarni and David Pedana
Clatskanie Oregon Police Department
Description: Police Chief Marvin Hoover is observed by other officers calling African Americans monkeys and animals; states that they deserve brutality and sings a Confederate folk song while reenacting police brutality
People: Police Chief Marvin Hoover
Sources: Daily Kos, KOIN Channel 6 News
Grantville Georgia Police Department
Description: Text messages revealed that the Police Chief of Grantville, Georgia, Doug Jordan, referred to local African Americans as niggers.
People: Police Chief Doug Jordan
Sources: The Times Herald
State of New Jersey Department of Animal Cruelty
Description: After being turned in by a fellow employee, dozens of racist text messages were discovered by Chief Victor Amato including one with a death threat to Al Sharpton, a reference of dogs urinating on the dead body of slain Ferguson teenager Michael Brown, text messages comparing African Americans monkeys, and much more.
People: Chief Victor “Bud” Amato
Greenburgh New York Police Department
Description: Longtime veteran of the police force Officer Brad DiCairano posted a picture on his Facebook page of a group of baboons comparing them to protestors in Ferguson, Missouri.
People: Officer Brad DiCairano
Fort Worth Police Department
Description: After multiple complaints from African American officers on the force, an independent review determined that the Fort Worth Police Department created a hostile environment for its black employees and did nothing to rectify problems after they were reported, including harassment, bullying, and an incident where a noose was put around the neck of a snowman with a banana in his hand and police hat on to mock killing a black police officer.
People: Department wide
Sources: NBC Dallas, NBC Dallas