A Florida police officer has been suspended for 5 days for an ill-advised comment directed at Parkland, Florida, student David Hogg.
Coconut Creek police K-9 officer Brian Valenti posting the comment on Facebook in response to the “die-in” intimidation campaign Hogg organized to protest the Florida based Supermarket Publix contributing to a hometown candidate who supports the NRA, according to the Sun Sentinel.
Valenti said he hoped “some old lady loses control of her car in that lot,” posting the comment under a photo of media favorite Hogg and two others standing in a parking lot at the Coral Springs Publix.
Black Mirror Season 4 2k19 pic.twitter.com/WC3w4cTezC
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) May 27, 2018
In a show of the media support an empowered Hogg enjoys, the story was picked up widely by the national media.
While inexcusable, the comment captures the animosity many feel toward Hogg and his misguided campaign of bullying toward those who don’t support his gun control agenda — the student called 5 million responsible gun owners who make up the NRA “child murderers.”
The Publix #NoNRASellout protest began in the early morning hours. Survivors and family of victims chalked outlines of bodies in the Parkland @Publix parking lot to deliver the message that the NRA and their enablers are blocking rational gun policy. #NoNRAMoney pic.twitter.com/UOOAVEV4yT
— NoNRAMoney (@noNRAmoney) May 25, 2018
Coconut Creek Chief Albert “Butch” Arenal shared a statement online announcing the 23 year veteran police officer’s suspension over the “disparaging remark.”
Chief Arenal has announced the suspension of Officer Brian Valenti due to a disparaging remark on social media regarding last week's protest at Publix. Link to the full statement below:https://t.co/IidyXDRl81
— Coconut Creek Police Department (@CoconutCreekPD) May 29, 2018
“After careful consideration of the adverse impact Officer Valenti’s Facebook post may have had on any of the individuals involved, his deep regret for making the comment, and the damage inflicted upon the Coconut Creek Police Department’s reputation, I have decided to suspend Officer Valenti for a period of five days without pay,” Arenal said in the statement.
The police chief noted that his department has been actively involved in responding to the tragic shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School.
“Our officers have walked alongside Parkland students,” he added, “providing security during protests, have attended and assisted with events and vigils in Parkland to show solidarity with our kids, and our amazing employees have gone above and beyond the call of duty to be there for our community in a time of need.”
From the parking lots of Parkland to the streets of Liberty City we work to create the world we wish to see for both us and future generations. Working together as Americans anything is possible. @firepfeiffer1 thanks for join me this morning pic.twitter.com/fcwZjKZsMf
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) May 26, 2018
Join @ChangeTheRef, @davidhogg111 & others as we #ProtestPublix by staging a "die-in" at the #CoralSprings @Publix pic.twitter.com/yQO1qzaSWC
— Change the Ref (@ChangeTheRef) May 25, 2018
Arenal said Officer Valenti will be “required to attend” reeducation camp sensitivity training “in order to continue as an employee with the police department.”
Hogg, who moves comfortable between the role of aggressive activist and a passive victim, described Valenti’s words as “hate and violence.”
“Cops are meant to protect and serve communities, not spread hate and violence among them,” the 18-year old media darling said, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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