Advertisement Bethel Heights PD fires part-time officer over Facebook comments about Black Lives Matter Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The Bethel Heights Police Department fired a part-time officer over Facebook comments he made, according to Cpl. Chasity Mahan.The Police Department posted on Facebook that the fired officer's name is David Hastings. The post said that "the administration finds Mr. Hastings in violation of our policy concerning social media and his termination is effective immediately."Screenshots of comments attributed to David Hastings were shared across Facebook Monday and Tuesday.In one, Hastings commented on an article about the rate at which unarmed black men are killed by police. Hastings wrote:"That's because they do not comply. I don't care about the population. That is horse ----. The fact is you are 80% more likely to do something something to show your --- when you are approached by police. Whites just don't do it as often. I am done with the conversation because instead of just owning what the problem is. Poor upbringing and lack of respect. You want to blame the police. Bye"He also made other comments criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement and people who had been killed by police.The Bethel Heights Police Department wrote, "We have had the opportunity to view the comments and views expressed by Mr. Hastings. To maintain the integrity of our Officers and our Department, please understand the views expressed were views of Mr. Hastings and not of the Bethel Heights Officers or Department."The Bethel Heights Police Department was made aware of Hastings' actions on Tuesday, after people in the community reached out to them about it.Bethel Heights police Cpl. Chasity Mahan told 40/29 she is grateful that people came forward about this incident.“I appreciate them bringing that to my attention because we wouldn’t have known. We work for a small department. I am friends with David on Facebook but it’s not like I monitor his Facebook. If they didn’t let us know that this was going on, we probably wouldn’t have known. I appreciate every message I got concerning this issue," she said.Hastings worked as a patrol officer for the department for the past year. Without him, the department now has six full-time officers and three part-time officers.