An Ohio police officer resigned this week after posting a photo of himself in police gear using racial slurs and song lyrics that threaten to shoot people.
Andrew Russ, based out of Canton, posted a photo on social media on Tuesday night wearing police gear and holding a can with lyrics from rapper 50 Cent’s song “Many Man,” which include lines referring to shooting people who mess with him and uses a racial slur as well as profane language, according to a report by the Columbus Dispatch.
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“I don’t even want to know a reason why he did it,” Canton Police Chief Jack Angelo said. “It’s indefensible. In 31 years, I’ve never been so upset with a police officer as I was with him.”
Russ’s post comes in the wake of mass protests following the death of George Floyd last week. Floyd, a black man, died on Memorial Day after a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. Protests across the country have urged action on police brutality and systemic racism.
Angelo said Russ’s post was online for a time span between five and 10 minutes until it was removed. The city intended to fire the officer because his “conduct is unacceptable and not in line with the standards of the Canton Police Department.”
The department said on Wednesday that Russ had resigned prior to being fired.
“The Canton Police Department condemns all forms of racism,” the post added. “Please do not judge all officers by the actions of one former police officer. The Canton Police Department is and will continue to be dedicated to serving the community.”
