DALLAS — A Fort Worth police officer was terminated because of “racially insensitive and inappropriate” posts on the officer’s social media, the Police Department announced Tuesday.
Officer Chadwick Hughes was fired for violating the department’s general orders related to social media use, the department said.
Another officer found the posts on Jan. 30, police said, leading to an immediate internal affairs investigation of Hughes, who had been with the Fort Worth department for three years. Hughes was placed on restricted duty Feb. 1, and his gun, badge and policing powers were taken away.
Following the investigation, the department said Chief Neil Noakes had determined that Hughes was in violation of the department’s general orders and that his actions had brought “justified unfavorable criticism upon the department.”
Police did not describe the contents of the former officer’s posts.
On Friday, another Fort Worth police officer was placed on restricted duty for similar reasons. The department said it will “continue to hold accountable those who do not meet the standard.”
“The Fort Worth Police Department holds every officer to a very high standard and any comment, post, or any communication which is racially insensitive and unprofessional will not be condoned in any manner,” the department said in a written statement.
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(Dallas Morning News staff writer Nataly Keomoungkhoun contributed to this report.)
