Seattle police identify officer fired for profane and disparaging social-media posts|The Seattle Times

A Seattle cops officer fired for violating the department’s social-media policy was considered “threatening” by the U.S. Secret Service and was examined for possible federal criminal charges for posts suggesting violence versus former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

A disciplinary file launched late Friday by the Seattle Authorities Department (SPD) recognized the officer as Duane Goodman, 43, an 11-year department veteran who worked patrol.

In a composed rationale for terminating Goodman, Authorities Chief Carmen Finest stated Goodman’s social-media posts– which included tirades versus “illegal immigration” and “appeared to back violence” against Obama and Clinton– had actually triggered her to lose confidence in his ability to safeguard and serve the Seattle public. She kept in mind that Goodman had recently been suspended for escalating another event to the point where a fellow officer feared for their security.

“Your posts were destructive and threatening,” Finest wrote in an official Disciplinary Action Report terminating Goodman from the SPD signed last November. “For you to … accept violence as a ‘option’ for public figure with whom you disagree is a betrayal of the values of our occupation.”

The case became public in the past week after a synopsis was published on the Office of Cops Accountability’s (OPA) website.

Best said Goodman’s profanity-laced criticism of what he called “prohibited” immigration possibly undercut the department’s mission to fairly serve “all members of the community, despite migration status or beliefs.”

“The department’s capability to fulfill its public security duties depends on communities believing that officers will treat them equally and with self-respect, regardless of their immigration status,” Best concluded. “Your comments suggest that you will not do so. They could have substantial unfavorable repercussions to the relationship between members of the Department and those that we serve and showed going beyond poor judgment.”

The files do not mention that Goodman has actually been charged with drunken driving, coming from an August 2018 arrest in Renton by King County sheriff’s deputies.

Goodman has pleaded not guilty. A conviction would be a violation of SPD policy.

The prosecution has been continued several times and is pending in King County District Court in Kent. A hearing is set for February, according to court records.

An internal investigation into Goodman’s social-media accounts came after a civilian acquaintance of the officer grumbled anonymously about posts that “assaulted [ed] specific groups of peoples … [and] individuals’s political views,” according to an OPA investigation. The complainant discovered numerous of the posts “less than professional” and worried that multiple hashtag notifies utilized in the posts, including #maga and #trump 2020, might provide his “improper posts” a broad audience, according to a report on the event put together by the OPA.

According to that case summary, the officer used “exceptionally profane language” in the posts, which were made under the Instagram username @officerdg, which Finest stated clearly identified him as an authorities officer.

One Instagram post consisted of a photo of a bundle bomb and the message: “I do not excuse sending out plan bombs but god it would be nice for Killary and Anti-cop Obama to finally STFU! Perhaps Obama will stop lying and claiming the great economy is from him.”

Best noted this post was made “at a time that various plans consisting of pipe bombs were sent by mail to numerous public figures,” including Obama and Clinton. The department turned the details over to the U.S. Trick Service, which opened a criminal examination, according to the disciplinary documents. The case was referred to the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace, which declined to submit charges, Best stated.

Another post consists of an image of the officer raising the middle finger to the electronic camera. The text beneath states, “If you support illegal immigrants coming into our country so much then make a distinction and bring them into your house and YOU support them you (curse),” according to OPA files.

Goodman, in a hearing with the chief, assured to gain from the incident and not repeat his mistakes, according to the files. Best, nevertheless, concluded that enabling him to keep his badge and weapon wasn’t worth the risk.

“I can not, and will not, take the danger of subjecting the general public we serve to another lapse in judgment that could further impact members of the neighborhood and the department,” Finest wrote. “I do not have self-confidence in your ability to successfully operate as a member of this cops department.”

The development of social networks and its influence on the department and public understanding were acknowledged by former Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole, who in 2015 executed tough brand-new policies for officers who venture into the virtual social scene.