Photo credit: Gainesville Police | Facebook

Florida Police Officer Michael Hamill alongside two other police officers from the Gainesville department had several images of the trio helping victims after Hurricane Irma destroyed the region on Facebook.

Some of those brave and helpful images went viral on the social media platform as a sign of America's finest in action helping the community.

The images had endless numbers of appreciative comments, with one specific image littered with positive comments calling the officers “hunkapotumuses” and another saying “thank you brave officers so much for your courage”.

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That specific image accumulated an astounding 181,000 comments, and a whopping 517,000 likes; as well as a stunning 276,000 shares on Facebook.

However, once the images had made the officers ultra viral sensations for their efforts during the storm, the social justice warrior and white knight attacks then began over the officer's past.

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It turns out that back in 2011 and in 2013, Michael Hamill had posted edgy jokes about Jews and Hitler from his Facebook account, and that someone has screenshots of those comments.

Of course in 2017, in the politically correct and ruthless society in America that the past oftentimes will haunt you due to the relentless nature of the people pursuing you.

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One screenshot is dated from April of 2013 post, in which Hamill posted the following:

<blockquote>“Who knew that reading jewish jokes before I go to bed would not only make me feel better about myself but also help me to sleep better as well. Here is one for everybody, “What’s the difference between boy scouts and jews?” Anybody know? Well it is because “Boy scouts come back from their camps.”</blockquote>

Edgy stuff. To the average person that may be offensive, but it's intended to be a very dark joke by an obviously inconsiderate and inexperienced young man.

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That wasn't it however, with another screenshot of a 2011 post made by Hamill also appearing to say the following:

<blockquote>”So I find it funny that people will talk about how our government needs to do something about our economy and in reality it’s YOU who needs to stop taking advantage of our system and get a life and do something with your life. Gotta love reality when it hits you in the face. Stupid people annoy me. Put them in an oven and deal with them the Hitler way. Haha.”</blockquote>

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Since those images have created outrage and went viral themselves, the Gainesville Police Department have reviewed the matter and <a href="http://www.gainesvillepd.org/">issued a statement of their own.</a>

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<blockquote>“Several citizens have brought information to our attention regarding complaints against Officer Michael Hamill.”</blockquote>

<blockquote>”GPD takes these allegations extremely seriously. GPD is reviewing the allegations and will do so in accordance to Florida law and department policy. Under Florida Law, complaint information is confidential until an investigation is concluded.”</blockquote>

<blockquote>”The Gainesville Police Department prides itself with our philosophy and mission of compassion, inclusion, and respect and will fully review the matter.”</blockquote>

Look, I'm not defending the words Michael Hamill chose to use. I realize to many people the jokes he told and the rhetoric was offensive. I get that.

However what's offensive to you isn't offensive to everyone. Some people enjoy the dark and graphic humor, which I compare to that of Dave Chappelle or Richard Pryor or even George Carlin.

Yes, it's edgy. Yes, it's offensive.

It's also free speech.

The man's words, from his past, regardless of they are labeled as immoral or wrong or whatever; simply do not reflect his bravery and actions during Hurricane Irma.

Yes, he has to own his words. There is no denying such.

My generation and those younger than me don't allow Political Correctness to guide our lives though, albeit I do understand there are in fact consequences when you make mistakes, the attacks on Officer Hamill seem heavily out of place after so many years.

He probably should have owned his words, offered an apology, and said he was young and stupid. That may not please everyone though.

The issue here is a free speech matter, and the fact that a man who made comments years ago on his personal Facebook account has now been suspended indefinitely over his words from so long ago that in no way occurred at his workplace or in relation to his job.

In my opinion this is a dangerous precedent to set. When people can be fired from future employers for their past wrongthink you're giving corporations, business, and government even more control over people and their lives.

You then encourage anonymity and discourage creativity.

That's my take on this matter, Officer Michael Hamill may have said some offensive things, but the suspension is unwarranted when he wasn't a police officer at the time nearly 7 years ago at the time of the first post.

He's now suspended from the force. He's paying a heavy price for adolescent mistakes.

None of us are perfect, and he most certainly realizes that what he said at the time was controversial, but is this the America we want to live in?

One where if you criticize the wrong people you can be fired or incarcerated.

One where if you make edgy jokes or dark humor you can be arrested or lose your job.

One where your learning experiences as an adult growing from adolescence into maturity the mistakes will haunt you forever.

I don't think that's the America dream; and sadly that's not a representation of free speech.

If something offends you, keep scrolling and move on.

It's not that hard.

—<i>[email protected]</i>

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<a href="https://www.twitter.com/IWillRedPillYou">@IWillRedPillYou</a>

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