A Louisiana white police officer quit his job for a racist Facebook post where he allegedly suggested it was “unfortunate” that a coronavirus pandemic did not kill black people, officials said.
Kaplan Police Officer Steven Aucoin was fired after conducting an investigation into hateful social media posts, department officials announced Friday.
“We are writing this to let everyone know that we are aware of this situation with comments on Facebook from Steven Aucoin,” the police statement said. “Head [Joshua] Hardy examined the incident and the officer was dismissed. Chief Hardy and the Kaplan Police Department want to apologize for this problem. “
The department did not specify what Aucoin wrote, but Hardy said KATC the officer quipped he thought it was “unfortunate” that the ongoing coronavirus outbreak had not killed all black people.
Hardy confirmed the characterization for The Post when contacted for comment Monday, but said he could not remember the whole post.
“I do not tolerate such behavior in my department,” Hardy said. “It’s very inappropriate for a police officer, or anyone for that matter, to comment like that.”
Aucion previously worked as an officer in Kaplan for eight months before leaving the department for work in the oil business. He then returned to work as a patrolman three months ago, said Hardy.
Aucoin’s troubling Facebook comments were made when he argued with other women about local news about coronavirus. The officer was later fired for violating the department’s social media policy, Hardy said.
“Police officers are held to a higher standard and may not act like that,” the police chief continued. “But sometimes you really don’t know who someone is until you’re around them for a while.”
