Officer fired for singing about killing with metal band while in uniform

Mary Bowerman | USA TODAY Network

A Florida police officer was fired on Wednesday after a video emerged of him on stage at a death metal concert in his police uniform.

Former Sanford Police Officer Andrew Ricks attended a Vital Remains concert at a bar in Sanford, Fla., on Nov. 13, WFTV reported.

While in uniform and on duty, Ricks got on stage and helped introduce the band and remained on stage to sing the band’s song "Let the killing begin.”

A video of the incident was posted on YouTube and eventually made its way to Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith.

After watching the video, Smith relieved Ricks of his duties on Nov. 18, WFTV reported.

“An incident of this nature erodes the thin fibers of trust which already exist between the community and the police, and it will not be tolerated within the Sanford Police Department," Smith said in a statement.

Prior to being fired, Ricks had issued a letter of resignation on Oct. 30, and his last day with the police department was set for Nov. 20, WKMG-TV reported.

Ricks was with the police department for six years prior to the incident and had never had another issue while on the job, according to WKMG-TV.

On social media, several people accused the police department of taking too harsh of a stand against Ricks.

“Police department is worried about relationships with the people. Well this cop just helped, but you fire him. Disgusting when killing gets you a desk but singing gets you fired,” John A. Furtado Jr. wrote in the comments section of the YouTube video.

“I see nothing wrong with this, in my eyes this is (a) great cause it shows someone of the law jamming out with the crowd and the band,” YouTube user Įsäį Bvstøš wrote.

Representative Ronny Neal said the police department had no choice but to take action, WKMG-TV reported.

"The focus is, again, how the citizens view it, how the community views it and 'Let the killing begin' was just a concern," Neal said.

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