Cincinnati Police Officer Freddie Vincent in 2001

Cincinnati Police Department

A black Cincinnati police officer has found himself the center of attention after making a Facebook post saying that white officers are just "looking for a reason to kill a black man," the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.


The Cincinnati Police Department is reviewing the post under its "social media procedure and our rules and regulations," Police Chief Eliot Isaac said in a statement Thursday.

The date of the post made by Police Officer Freddie Vincent is not exactly known, but the Enquirer reports that it was apparently made after the police-shooting death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, La.


"Yep it has made world wide news now…A message to all my Afro America friends and family. When you are encountered by a white officer make sure that you are in a public place, and comply to all of their commands, because they are looking for a reason to kill a black man," Vincent wrote in the now-deleted post. "And always keep your hands in the air, and never resist. I'm so tired of cops using these famous words 'I was in fear of my life.' I'm praying for Louisiana that could have been my nephew in B.R."

In the aftermath, Chief Isaac released a statement to the media discussing the officer's post:



The Cincinnati Police Department strives to maintain a culture of professionalism, as well as transparency and accountability for our actions. I am proud of the work of the men and women of the Cincinnati Police Department and our efforts to work collaboratively with the community…We are aware of a recent post to a commonly used social media site by one of our officers that refers to an interpretation of a law-enforcement officer’s actions. The comments that were posted are under review as they relate to our social media procedure and our rules and regulations.

Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black also issued a statement Thursday, saying that he was "very disappointed."

“When we’re in certain positions of responsibility, particularly public safety, we have to adhere to a higher standard of personal conduct. I know the comments depicted on Facebook are not indicative of the men and women who make up police department, nor city government," Black said, adding that he was confident CPD officials would carry out "whatever disciplinary action is warranted" following the investigation.


Vincent, the Enquirer reports, had been fired from the Cincinnati Police Department in August 1999 after pleading no contest to speeding on his motorcycle and failing to have an operator's license. He was later reinstated in July 2000 after arbitrators reduced his discipline to a 40-hour suspension, saying that his career could be salvaged with extra training.

He also, according to the Enquirer, has a history of other disciplinary actions, including neglect of duty in six auto accidents in a cruiser, but in 2007 he was hailed a hero after pushing another cop behind cover after a suspect pulled a gun on officers outside a nightclub.


Read more at the Cincinnati Enquirer.