San Jose Cop Fired for Anti-Black Lives Matter Tweets Has Job Reinstated

A San Jose police officer who was fired after tweeting controversial statements about Black Lives Matter is back on the job.

Officer Phillip White was fired last year after tweeting racially-charged statements that appeared to threaten the lives of Black Lives Matter protesters, the San Jose Mercury News reports. White’s Twitter appears to be no longer active, but tweets included “Threaten me or my family and I will use my God given and law appointed right and duty to kill you. #CopsLivesMatter” and “By the way if anyone feels they can’t breathe or their lives matter, I’ll be at the movies tonight, off duty, carrying my gun,” according to the paper.

Acting Chief of Police Eddie Garcia said in a statement that all police officers are allowed to participate in a binding arbitration to challenge dismissal. “While the City and Department disagree with the Arbitrator’s conclusion, we respect the process and will move forward with reinstatement,” he said. “The Department recognizes that the individual character and excellence of each Department member reflects upon the Department. Therefore the Department will continue to expect each of its members to maintain a high ethical standard and provide equitable treatment for all its citizens.”

Officer White will be on desk duty and assist in the rollout of the San Jose Police Department’s body camera program.