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Ohio Police Officer Fired for ‘Racially Charged’ Facebook Posts
By: Associated Press
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REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (AP) – A central Ohio police officer has been fired after a four-month investigation into Facebook posts that officials say were racially charged.
Officials say Reynoldsburg Officer Katherine Mielke was fired last week after a disciplinary hearing. Authorities say she posted two items on Facebook last year that were racially insensitive to African Americans and Asians.
Chief Jim O’Neill recommended the firing. He says he was shocked and disappointed the 22-year veteran of the department posted the items on social media. O’Neill says officers have gone through cultural diversity training since the investigation started.
Mielke couldn’t be reached for comment.
The police union says she’s fighting to get her job back.