Newark cop fired for controversial 'gorilla' Facebook post
By Vernal Coleman and Paul Milo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on October 01, 2015 at 7:01 PM, updated October 02, 2015 at 7:11 AM
Comments
Robert Sciarrino
NEWARK — A veteran police lieutenant was fired Wednesday for disparaging Ras Baraka, the city's African-American mayor, in a Facebook exchange this summer, department spokesman Sgt. Ron Glover said Thursday.
MORE: Camden County corrections officer fired for racist text messages
"As we continue to improve our community relations and to develop police legitimacy, we will not condone the type of behavior that Lt. [Anthony] Caruso displayed while referring to a member of our city administration as a gorilla," Police Director Eugene Venable said in a statement.
RELATED: Cop under investigation for post comparing mayor to gorilla
Attempts to reach Caruso for comment were unsuccessful. According to state records, the 23-year police veteran leaves behind a $133,528 annual salary.
The department launched an investigation in late July after a member of the public sent police officials a screenshot of a Facebook conversation between Caruso and what is believed to be a retired officer. The retired officer posted a photo of a gorilla captioned ""Lmfao....How's your mayor?"
"Exactly!!!!", Caruso replied, touching off a brief exchange between the two.
Glover said that while the department does not actively monitor employees' social media activity, a "general order" is in place governing online conduct that prohibits " employees from making any comment or opinion that defames the department or is derogatory in nature towards the City of Newark or any of its employees."
In explaining Caruso's termination, Venable said the lieutenant "wilfully" violated the policy and that the exchange was seen by "numerous persons."
@Newark88 @midwesthiphop
By Vernal Coleman and Paul Milo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com on October 01, 2015 at 7:01 PM, updated October 02, 2015 at 7:11 AM
Comments
Robert Sciarrino NEWARK — A veteran police lieutenant was fired Wednesday for disparaging Ras Baraka, the city's African-American mayor, in a Facebook exchange this summer, department spokesman Sgt. Ron Glover said Thursday.
MORE: Camden County corrections officer fired for racist text messages
"As we continue to improve our community relations and to develop police legitimacy, we will not condone the type of behavior that Lt. [Anthony] Caruso displayed while referring to a member of our city administration as a gorilla," Police Director Eugene Venable said in a statement.
RELATED: Cop under investigation for post comparing mayor to gorilla
Attempts to reach Caruso for comment were unsuccessful. According to state records, the 23-year police veteran leaves behind a $133,528 annual salary.
The department launched an investigation in late July after a member of the public sent police officials a screenshot of a Facebook conversation between Caruso and what is believed to be a retired officer. The retired officer posted a photo of a gorilla captioned ""Lmfao....How's your mayor?"
"Exactly!!!!", Caruso replied, touching off a brief exchange between the two.
Glover said that while the department does not actively monitor employees' social media activity, a "general order" is in place governing online conduct that prohibits " employees from making any comment or opinion that defames the department or is derogatory in nature towards the City of Newark or any of its employees."
In explaining Caruso's termination, Venable said the lieutenant "wilfully" violated the policy and that the exchange was seen by "numerous persons."
@Newark88 @midwesthiphop
and he gets to keep 80% of that now that he got retired
