George Floyd Protests: Denver police officer fired for posting ‘Let’s start a riot’ on Instagram

‘We ask the public, as well as elected city officials, to stop using social media to fan the flames of hatred,’ says the Denver Police Protective Association

A Denver police officer has been fired, after he captioned a photo of himself and two other officers dressed in tactical gear, with “Let’s start a riot.”

Officer Thomas McClay was fired by the Denver Police Department on Tuesday, after his post, that was published amid protests that have followed the death of George Floyd, was shared on social media.

He was fired for breaching the department’s social media policy, which does not allow officers to publish posts that may harm the police’s relationship with civilians, according to CBS News.

Mr McClay posted the photo to Instagram over the weekend, and an internal investigation into his confuct was launched on Monday.

The offending post has been removed from Instagram, but city officials told the outlet that Mr McClay was swiftly dismissed as he was still in his probationary period, after only becoming an officer in October 2019.

The Denver Police Protective Association released a statement, where they called Mr McClay’s post “insensitive.”

It read: “Today a young, probationary Denver police officer was terminated for posting an inflammatory, insensitive, and quite frankly, misguided photograph on social media.

“For the other 1,600 Denver Police officers who are left dealing with a very difficult situation, we ask the public, as well as elected city officials, to stop using social media to fan the flames of hatred,” the association added.

Mr McClay’s post was published as protests took place all across the US, following the death of Mr Floyd, who died after being detained by Derek Chauvin, who at the time was a Minneapolis police officer.

The protests, in opposition of police brutality against African Americans, started in Minneapolis, but quickly spread to Denver and New York, among many other cities across the US over the weekend.

Police have clashed with protesters all over the US, and some officers have been filmed using excessive force.

During a press conference at the Colorado state capitol building, in Denver, on Tuesday, state representative Leslie Herod and president of the Colorado Senate Leroy Garcia, announced a new bill that plans to change the way the police force is run in the state.

Some of the measures in the proposed legislation, include forcing police to wear bodycams at all times and the introduction of a database that will include justification for every stop officers make.

“We have a moment right now. And I want to say that all of those people who are outside protesting, demonstrating, demanding justice, your voices are being heard right here in the capitol,” said Ms Herod.

“I need your help to make sure that we hold your elected officials, our elected officials accountable, to get this bill passed.”