Police officers in Kentucky and Massachusetts have been disciplined for mocking counter-protesters killed and/or injured in the Charlottesville attack by 20-year-old white supremacist James Alex Fields over the weekend.
Springfield Police Officer Conrad Lariviere wrote a series of disparaging comments underneath an article posted by conservative writer Ben Shapiro. In those comments, Lariviere made light of the situation and condemned protesters for being in the streets.
Fields drove a Dodge Challenger into a crowd of protesters killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring 19 others.
"Hahahaha love this, maybe people shouldn't block roads," Lariviere wrote. He also wrote, "How do you know he was a Nazi scum bag?" under his original statement.
After receiving backlash, Lariviere back tracks. "Never would I want someone to get murdered. I am not a racist and don't believe in what any of those protesters are doing," Lariviere told MassLive. "I'm a good man who made a stupid comment and would just like to be left alone."
While he claims to be a good man who made a stupid decision, the Springfield Police are moving forward with an internal investigation.
"I received notification of this Facebook post earlier today via email from a complainant. The post is purportedly from Springfield police officer. I took immediate steps to initiate a prompt and thorough internal investigation," Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri wrote in an email to MassLive. "If in fact, this post did originate from an officer employed with the Springfield Police Department, this matter will be reviewed by the Community Police Hearings Board for further action."
Another officer, this time in Kentucky, chose to make light of Fields' attack on protesters. Shively Officer Morris Rinehardt shared a meme of the Challenger's mangled front on Facebook with a caption stating: "When you were born a Challenger but identify as a Ram."
Shively Police Lt. Col. Josh Myers told The Washington Post that Rinehardt has been placed on administrative leave during an investigation into the meme posted on Facebook.