If the world isn’t fully convinced that there needs to be retroactive thought process on who we allow to police our citizens, look no further than the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department in Dayton, OH.
Not too far from where 12-year-old Tamir Rice was gunned down, five Ohio deputies of the force are being probed for some serious racially charged text messages, said to be made while on duty.
Via Raw Story:
In a statement on Tuesday, Sheriff Phil Plummer said that two of the five deputies — Sheriff’s Capt. Thomas J. Flanders and Detective Michael J. Sollenberger — had been placed on indefinite paid administrative leave starting on Dec. 1.
According to WDTN, Flanders is in charge of the Montgomery County Jail, and Sollenberger works with the internal affairs unit and is a member of the SWAT team. The three other deputies had not been identified by name, and had not been suspended.
Sheriff Plummer said that the deputies sent racial messages on their personal phones between November 2011 and January 2013. Some messages were sent while the men were on duty, and some messages were directed at African-American deputies, he said.
“The N-word was used several times as well as other racial slurs and jokes,” Plummer noted. “Racism will not be tolerated in this office.”
Sheriff Plummer said that the deputies sent racial messages on their personal phones between November 2011 and January 2013. Some messages were sent while the men were on duty, and some messages were directed at African-American deputies, he said.
“The N-word was used several times as well as other racial slurs and jokes,” Plummer noted. “Racism will not be tolerated in this office.”
Sheriff Plummer also told WDTN that the incident wasn’t a reflection on his entire department, but rather an individual effort that will be dealt with to the fullest extent of his power. The local NAACP are happy with how the probe has been handled thus far.
Hit the next few pages to see the incriminating texts and one of the officers who stands accused.
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Photos: WDTN2
