Cincy officer finds colleague's posts 'unacceptable'

The Cincinnati Police Department wasn't talking Friday, but it didn't matter.

Ripples created in social media posts from Officer Freddie Vincent Jr. turned into waves after media reports Thursday documented his comments about racial bias in policing and fatal shootings involving police around the United States.

The posts, in which Vincent wrote white police officers "are looking for a reason to kill a black man," prompted Chief Eliot Isaac to launch an investigation into the matter based on the department's social media policy for employees.

They also generated anger among Vincent's peers. In Friday posts on Twitter, Cincinnati police officer Kyle Strunk said Vincent's comments are "unacceptable."

"Despite a coworker saying us white cops are out looking to kill ppl (sic)," Strunk tweeted, "I want my city to know, I SERVE w integrity and honor. And To help ppl."

He later tweeted: "I serve my community and strive to make it better by helping people. And never to hurt anyone. Ever. I love my city and the ppl (sic)."

This was not Vincent's first time making racially derogatory statements regarding whites. On Friday, personnel records obtained by The Enquirer showed Vincent was disciplined in 2013 for referring to a prisoner as “white trailer trash.”

The police department declined Friday to provide an update on the investigation into the Facebook posts. It was not known if Vincent had been or would be disciplined for his activity on social media.

In a statement, Mayor John Cranley said he is confident Isaac will do what he can to ensure the Cincinnati Police Department remains a positive example for others around the country.

Cincinnati Police Department policies allow personnel to express themselves as private citizens on social media "to the degree that their speech does not impair working relationships in the department...does not impede the performance of duties, impair discipline and harmony among coworkers, or negatively affect the public perception of the department."

It continues: "Department personnel should assume that their speech and related activity on social media sites will reflect upon their office and this department." The policy also prohibits "publishing or posting false information that harms the reputation of another person, group, or organization (defamation)."

Councilman Wendell Young, a former Cincinnati police officer, said the investigation should be allowed to take its course. However, he said Vincent's actions are a teaching moment for both officers and civilians about using social media.

"The lesson should be clear to anyone, choose your words carefully," Young said. "Once you put it on social media, it’s out there. It’s not a time to say or do anything that makes the nationwide situation any worse. We just can’t afford that."

Young said everyone has a right to free speech, but it needs to be speech that doesn't impair working relationships or the department.

"He painted all the white officers with a pretty broad brush, which isn’t fair," Young said. "He wouldn’t like somebody painting all black officers with such a broad brush."

Councilman Chris Smitherman, chair of City Council's law and public safety committee, called the post "horrible."

"There's no other way to look at it," Smitherman said. "It's not a reflection of our officers. It's not true. I feel confident in our chief's leadership that he's taking it seriously."

For black officers, internal conflict over role in society

A public employee's speech can be protected by the First Amendment when regarding speech that's directed to a "public concern," Cincinnati attorney Bob Newman said. But Newman, a Downtown Cincinnati-based attorney who handles civil rights, criminal defense and personal injury cases, said that protection does not extend to public workers who speak out on matters of employment.

"There's always going to be a dispute as to where the line is drawn and what is 'public concern' and what is 'matters of employment,'" Newman said. "Clearly, the issue of police getting killed and police engaging in excessive force is of public concern. Judging where this officer's speech was directed, someone has to draw the line, and it may end up being a judge drawing a line."

Vincent, 47, has been a Cincinnati police officer for nearly 22 years, according to the Cincinnati Police Department.  He began his current assignment patrolling District 5 in 2009.

Vincent’s file has several commendations for his police work, but also complaints, including one about excessive use of force. His most recent commendation listed in his file was in 2010 for pulling over a reckless driver.

Based on Vincent’s most recent annual review, which was completed in May, he was found to “meet standards.”

Besides the incident in which he derided the white prisoner, Vincent was disciplined other times in recent years, records show.

He was suspended for two days last month after an investigation into a Nov. 17 incident in which he was providing police services detail at Western Hills High School, records show.

Last year, he was suspended for a half-day for insubordination and making inaccurate statements to supervisors regarding the verification of an illness that required the use of sick time, records show. Other violations in Vincent’s file are regarding time and attendance.