A South Florida police officer is being suspended for five days after his online post about Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student activist David Hogg sparked outrage, the SunSentinel is reporting.
Brian Valenti, who works for the Coconut Creek Police Department, also will be be required to undergo sensitivity training, the newspaper said.
Hogg, a student at the Parkland, Florida school where 17 people were shot and killed, had organized demonstrations at some Publix supermarkets. He and others were protesting against the chain’s donation to gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, a National Rifle Association supporter.
As part of the protests, Hogg and the others drew chalk outlines of 17 bodies in the parking lot of one of the Publix stores.
Under a photo of Hogg, Valenti had posted on Facebook: "Hope some old lady loses control of her car in that lot."
Police Chief Butch Arenal announced on Tuesday: "After careful consideration of the adverse impact Officer Valenti’s Facebook post may have had on any of the individuals involved, his deep regret for making the comments, and the damage inflicted upon the Coconut Creek Police Department’s reputation, I have decided to suspend Officer Valenti for a period of five days without pay."
Valenti has reportedly told Arenal he will apologize in person to Hogg and other organizers of the protest.
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