A police lieutenant is indefinitely assigned to duty with "limited interaction with the public" and his work investigating internal affairs of the Columbia Police Department is being re-examined after an investigation found he violated department policy for misogynistic and racially charged comments on social media.

Lt. Brian Tate has been on paid administrative leave since the day after the Tribune sent acting Police Chief Jill Schlude screenshots of the tweets and requested comment.

An investigation completed Friday found that Tate, formerly internal affairs supervisor, violated policies barring officers from social media comments that tend “to compromise or damage the mission, function, reputation or professionalism of the Columbia Police Department or its employees.”

Schlude said in a press release Friday, an investigation determined that Tate violated the department’s social media and engaged in off-duty conduct unbecoming to the department.

"While the City cannot disclose specific personnel actions towards employees, I have determined that there were violations of department policies concerning social media and off-duty conduct which brought discredit to the department," Schlude said.

In one post on Twitter, Tate shamed an apparently homeless woman caught in the snow who was using garbage bags to keep her legs dry and warm. In others, Tate mocked a poor family for living in a mobile home after it caught fire and suggested gang violence would be less frequent had the South won the Civil War.

Tate will be placed on non-public duty until further notice, Schlude said. She added her decision took into account his history with the department, as well as the age of the tweets, which were posted between 2012 and 2016.

“I also reviewed the officer’s disciplinary history as well as the time period over which the posts were made in reaching my determination as to the appropriate personnel action,” Schlude said in the release. “The officer has been placed in a capacity which has limited interaction with the public until further notice.”

Tate was the department’s internal affairs supervisor from November 2015 to September 2018. His job as such was investigating alleged misconduct or wrongdoing by department officers “thoroughly and objectively.” In light of his posts and given that role, the department has ordered a review of all reports of racial profiling and use of force while he was in charge.

"Columbia Police officers must be held to the highest standards of conduct," Schlude said. "We strongly believe in the Principles of Community adopted by the City Council and know we must take the lead to eliminate any possible bias and discrimination within the department and increase our own individual understanding of these issues through education, training and interaction with others."

The city's response to Tate's policy violations are not limited to disciplining him.

The entire police command staff from lieutenant up will go through Building Inclusive Communities diversity training led by the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services Department. Interim City Manager John Glascock said in the release that while the tweets were in the past, it is necessary for all city staff to take responsibility for their actions and strive to create a community inclusive of all residents.

"We must take responsibility for our mistakes and actions even though they are in the past and can't be changed. However, we can learn from our mistakes, grow and move forward," Glascock said. "My expectation for all city staff, and especially of those in a leadership position, is to be a part of creating a community that's inclusive of all citizens who have differing perspectives, identities and lived experiences.

“My hope is that this officer is on that path and will be a shining example of second chances," he added.

Tate’s tweets drew national media attention and the ire of social and justice advocacy groups after the Tribune published an article on the posts. While the posts were made on his personal account, Tate repeatedly identified himself as a Columbia police officer in his feed. He issued a short statement Friday but did not deny he had violated policy.

“I will not be making any statements now or in the future regarding this matter,” Tate said.

The Twitter postings include photos taken downtown near the police station at Sixth and Walnut Streets. In February 2013, Tate tweeted a picture of an apparently homeless woman near the police station wearing trash bags while struggling to keep warm and made a comment shaming her.

“Walking holding trash bags around her legs #classic front seat in game of life!”

Tate also retweeted a controversial video by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Louisiana, who in 2017 drew fire for writing “Kill them all” about “radicalized Islamic suspects on his Facebook page. The video was shot when the lawmaker was serving as a Louisiana sheriff’s spokesman.

In the controversial 2016 clip, Higgins delivers a hard-line stance against gang activity that seemingly dismisses due process, calling the mostly black suspects who had not yet been convicted of crimes, “thugs,” “heathens” and “animals.”

“Man if the south would have won...,” Tate, who for years was tasked with investigating complaints of racial bias against officers, tweeted in response to Higgins’ video.

Tate repeatedly referred to segments of the Columbia community as “libtards.” He often refers to himself and others in law enforcement as a “sheepdog,” a controversial term often used by police and military in describing their role.

In February 2016, President Barack Obama hosted a reception for veteran and emerging civil rights leaders that included DeShaunya Ware of the Concerned Student 1950 group that drew national attention to racial issues at the University of Missouri in 2015. In one tweet, Tate linked to a news article about the event and Obama’s remarks that the work of racial justice equality group Black Lives Matter was outstanding, calling the president’s comments “disgraceful.”

Following the controversial shooting of Alton Sterling by Baton Rouge police in July 2016, Tate accused the owner of a Louisiana store filing a civil rights suit against several officers of doing so to avoid having his business burned.

“Definitely doesn’t want to give the appearance he’s cooperating with police and get his store burned down,” Tate tweeted.

In other posts, Tate shamed women for dressing sexy on Halloween, retweeted a post that people with pale skin and red hair have few friends and posted another bashing Asian drivers.

“Why am I not surprised RT @WTFLifeFacts: It took a South Korean woman 960 tries to pass her driving test,” he tweeted.

ppratt@columbiatribune.com

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