Colorado Officer Fired for Racial Slur to be Re-Hired

Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz said in a Facebook post that Lieutenant Charles DeShazer "made a highly inappropriate and racially inflammatory comment" but following an appeal to the Civil Service Commission, will be re-hired.

Embed from Getty Images

An Aurora (CO) police officer who was fired after being seen on video using a racial slur will reportedly be rehired, according to The Hill.

In body camera footage, Lieutenant Charles DeShazer can be heard saying, "We got the Alabama porch monkeys all contained."

Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that DeShazer "made a highly inappropriate and racially inflammatory comment while on the scene of a Denver Police Department officer involved shooting following a police pursuit. The offensive statement was caught on the body worn camera of another officer, and was reported internally by two APD supervisors who were also at the scene and heard the comment."

Chief Metz said that following an internal affairs investigation DeShazer was let go from the department.

DeShazer then appealed his termination to the Civil Service Commission, and following a hearing, the Commission reduced the termination to a demotion from lieutenant to sergeant.

"The Department is in the process of returning Sgt. DeShazer back to work. He will first be assigned to the APD Academy to ensure he is in compliance with all POST certification requirements," Chief Metz wrote. "His final assignment has yet to be determined. It is within my authority to set his assignment. I can assure the community that Sgt. DeShazer will not be in a supervisory or citizen-facing role."

About the Author
Page 1 of 212
Next Page