Database Claims to Document Thousands of Disturbing Social Media Posts From Cops

Departments say they are investigating officers' social media feeds
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 5, 2019 3:48 PM CDT
Database Claims to Document Thousands of Racist, Violent Posts From Cops
Stock photo.   (Getty Images / Cylonphoto)

Police departments in at least five states are investigating their officers' social media feeds after the weekend publication of a database that appears to catalog thousands of inflammatory posts by active-duty and former cops, the AP reports. The posts were uncovered by a team of researchers who spent two years looking at the personal Facebook accounts of police officers from Arizona to Florida. They found officers bashing immigrants and Islam, promoting racist stereotypes, identifying with right-wing militia groups and, especially, glorifying police brutality. All the posts were public.

Researchers looked at law enforcement agencies in Philadelphia; Phoenix; St. Louis; Dallas; Dennison, Texas; York, Pennsylvania; Lake County, Florida; and Twin Falls, Idaho. Most of the departments said this week they are launching investigations into their officers' Facebook presences, and discipline is possible. See the database, dubbed the Plain View Project, here.

(More police stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X