Fired Cops Meet With Police Chief, Argue Punishment Too Severe
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- The three former Fort Lauderdale Police Officers fired after being caught sending racist text messages met with the agency's chief on Wednesday to try and fight to get their jobs back.
The president of the police union said the former cops -- Christopher Sousa, Jason Holding and James Wells -- argued that the punishment they received of firing was too severe. However, we do not know what was said during the individual meetings on Wednesday because the police department is not commenting.
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The case centers on two things -- a racist video which shows vile images of violence against blacks and hateful images of bigotry and text message conversations between the officers where some of them mentioned killing black people. The officer who made the video, Alex Alvarez, quit and three others who were involved in the texting were fired.
As part of the officer's union contract they are able to file a grievance to try and plead their case. The chief of police has 10 days to respond to their request. If he turns them down, they can then request a meeting with the city manager. But city leaders have made clear from the outset their disgust at the officers' actions.
Activists from Dream Defenders, a group that fights to hold police accountable for their behavior towards minorities and the poor, says these officers should never be cops again.
"It's extremely ludicrous and if the department decides to try and have these officers back on the force it says towards an institutional element of racism within the police department," said Nucleus Shelton.
CBS4 News wanted to try and speak with those officers today as they entered and exited the police department on Wednesday but we never saw them come in or leave the police department.
A police spokeswoman said the former cops were escorted into and out of the building and could not confirm which entrance or exit they used.