A Portland police officer who griped on Twitter about having to work a Black Lives Matter protest where he’d have to “babysit these fools” has been pulled from patrol duty, authorities said.
John Hurlman, a 25-year veteran of the police force, was reassigned and taken off the streets after his social media musings went viral and sparked outrage from activists, the Portland Police Bureau said Tuesday.
“Black Lives Matter is planning to protest at Lloyd Center on black Friday. Oh joy, stuck late again at work to babysit these fools,” the officer wrote in a tweet that he has since deleted.
Activists from the Black Lives Matter and Don’t Shoot Portland groups plan to protest police brutality at the Nov. 27 event.
Authorities are reviewing the incident, Acting Chief Donna Henderson said in a statement.
“This post is in no way a reflection on how members of the Portland Police Bureau view these community groups or their peaceful expression of free speech,” Henderson said.
“Just as with any protest or demonstration, police will work to ensure a safe, secure and orderly event for all community members and to minimize disruptions to traffic,” she added.
Hurlman’s wife rushed to her husband’s defense, saying the father to their teenage children is a “good man with a good heart.”
“Of course he would protect anyone’s right to free speech and protest,” Christy Hurlman said in a statement to KGW News.
“It was not his intention to belittle their cause,” she added.
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