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Subscribe to RSSA 13-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department has been suspended without pay for his comment “Act like a Thug Die like one!” in response to a story about slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin.
Jason Giroir is under investigation by the New Orleans Public Integrity Bureau after a remark was posted on WWLTV.com’s website in response to an article about a rally supporting Martin. The slaying of the 17-year-old, who was shot by a neighborhood watch captain, has drawn nationwide attention.
Giroir has admitted to posting the comment last week. "His statement is, 'Yes, I did it’," Giroir’s lawyer, Eric Hessler, told The Times-Picayune. "He certainly didn't mean it as a racial comment, as an offensive comment, although it came out that way. He acknowledges he should have chosen better words."
Attempts by msnbc.com to reach Hessler for comment were unsuccessful Tuesday. A woman answering telephone calls at his office said Hessler was in court and would return calls later in the day.
New Orleans Superintendent Ronal Serpas announced Giroir’s suspension on Monday.
"To say that I’m angry is an understatement. I’m furious," said Serpas in a statement on Monday. "Let me be clear, the hard working men and women of the NOPD do not condone such statements. Giroir by those statements has embarrassed this department with insensitive, harmful and offensive comments. The New Orleans Police Department specifically condemns these comments, and comments like this will not be tolerated in the New Orleans Police Department."
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu also issued a statement supporting Serpas' action against Giroir, adding, "The people of New Orleans and my administration will not tolerate this reckless and offensive behavior. I condemn his statements in the strongest of terms."
The New Orleans police force created a policy regarding Internet posts a few years ago, which states: “Employees shall not post any material on the Internet -- including but not limited to photos, videos, word documents etc. -- that violates any local, state or federal law and/or embarrasses, humiliates, discredits, or harms the operation and reputation of the police department or any of its members,” WWLTV.com reported.
The probe comes less than a month after Giroir was involved in a deadly shootout on March 1 that is still under investigation.
Giroir made a traffic stop that escalated to a gunfight that left one man dead and two officers injured. Giroir did not fire any shots and was unharmed, but a bullet hit the Taser he was carrying during the shootout.
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I don't think I like this new world, where we can be suspended from a job for saying politically unpopular things.
umm, let me be clear! some top brass have forgotten what it's like to be 'on the front lines dodging THUG bullets"! Neu Orleans was always a haven for river rats, transoceanic criminals and whatever could stow away in the dregs of society, and now they all deserve some kind of 'special treatment' because of what??
well look at this whites get shot every day in the same way. how come this is not a issue? oh i forgot it is not racist to shoot a white person in the same way. maybe as a white person having to pay his way through collage maybe i should go apply for a grant with the united negro collage fund. oh! what im white i forgot. racist i wonder whos being rasist here. i think if the dude who shot him was black we would not of heard about all this b.s. what im hearing is right the dude fought the guy first.
Most white people a kool, but some are worthless. Most blacks are kool, but some are worthless. People who see thinks in black and white are worthless. History is neither black nor white, history is just the facts. So go ahead and apply for a grant from the Negro College Fund, you might get it, but you're going to have to sound like you what an education.
"Act like a thug and you will treated as such" would have been way more appropriate. Die? Who made these guys Judge Dredd? Investigate, arrest, convict. That is your job as a cop, not to pass judgement or mete out street justice.
Detroit Scum - there is a difference between defending yourself and judging someone. Your rock is awaiting.. start crawling
racist much?
You know, I like to think of myself as a liberal minded person. But I'm getting tired of certain groups of people being over-privileged because at one time in history they were underprivileged. The playing field for equality is far from level and I am for educating those on high ground about what it's like living in the social and economic swamp. I want to resent the remarks by Geraldo Rivera on Fox (and I do) and police officer Jason Giroir. I am losing sympathy for individuals and communities that insist on speaking, acting, and dressing differently while expecting to be treated the same as mainstream folks.
If your family has lived in the U.S. for generations, there is no reason for you to speak some esoteric "language" sprinkled with vulgarities and anti-social comments. That behavior is typical in children and most children outgrow it by the time they get to high school and realize the importance of socialization. For adults to engage in such childish communication (which includes writing on private or public property) says, "I'm not worthy of your respect because I don't respect myself, my family, or my associates".
Acting in anti-social and self-defeating ways as an individual is bad enough if progress is your desire. But as a group it does not gain my sympathy or my acceptance. Whether it is drug use, promiscuous sex, or criminal activity, you are showing yourself to be unworthy of membership in human society.
If you dress in the garb of the country from which you emigrated or dress to emulate the sociopaths among us, you are telling me you really don't want to become an American and you certainly don't want to fit in with those of us who produce, self-support, live by a moral code that includes cooperation, peace, and even love.
So, I am not impressed by a bunch of NBA players earning millions putting on hoodies to show solidarity with a young man of whom the media gave us little meaningful information other than his race and seeming innocent encounter with a neighborhood watch captain. Nor can I disagree with the policeman's statement, "Act like a thug, die like one." I don't know that if Trayvon Martin were wearing a white shirt, suit and tie that his encounter with Mr. Zimmerman would have had a happier outcome that would not be newsworthy. But as stated by several officials, we tend to judge people by their appearance and their group. We rely on experience, ours and others', in determining if someone approaching is a potential threat or just another passerby. Unfortunately, the shocking stories that make the papers and TV are often interacial tragedies. Those are the ones that stick in our minds if we happen to be in a perceived similar situation.
Therefore, it behooves a group's elders, church leaders, and longer-time residents to school the newcomers and youngsters on how to comport oneself, what kinds of goals to set for oneself, how NOT to make oneself a potential target for some hater or wannabe cop. Unfortunately, some groups are more comfortable perpetuating their stereotype rather than expending the energy inherent in social change.
Rest in peace Trayvon Martin. Maybe some good will come out of your untimely death. And I'm not talking about people going to prison or losing their jobs.
Kountryking's comment is about as good a statement as I've read on any of these posts. It's point on and intelligently, well written and thought out. It's a shame that the black community is "represented" by the Sharptons and Jacksons who are self serving (and sometimes extortionists). They do their community a tremendous disservice. I have seen a number of Black community and church leaders say essentially the same thing as Kountryking. One's appreance creates a preception in the eyes of those around them. Imagine if I walked into the "hood" dressed in a KKK costume. Would I be welcomed? Would I be judged by the people in that community. Would I be endangering my life? Become a productive member of the society you live in. Quit feeling sorry for yourselves when you create your own problems. Improve yourself and teach your children successful values. Then and only then will you receive the respect you feel intitled to demand.
If i wear a hoodie i'm emulating a sociopath??? Sorry my friend but it's not about fitting in... I don't have to talk the way you talk or eat what you like to eat or even look like you... As an American i have the freedom to eat dress and act as i see fit in so long as my actions are within the bounds of the law... You do not own this kountry (King) and no-1 needs to fit in to what you think is correct... Get over yourself...
So you judge people by the clothes they wear, and along with this reasoning, you also judge people by the color of their skin, and men must dress like men, and women must dress like women. So you pre-judge people by the way they dress, look, and act probably. Do you realize how you add up? This is not how Americans think. So here's how you add up. Pre-judge = Prejudice = Bigot = Un-American.
You can't be seriously saying that people should not wear hoodies, or else expect to be shot.
Instead of trying to educate all of american youth about the 'danger' of a clothing item that most of them have worn at one time or another, we should be educating the police that making assumptions about people from the way they dress is not sufficient grounds for shooting.
Wear what you want. emulating the thug life leaves a bad impression on people including me. Just won't have anything to do with you.
Another one of those non-thinkers? Wow! That police dept. should read some of the posts i have read about this Martin/Zimmerman case. What this officer said was pretty tame compared to some posters. Racism is still alive and well, here in the good ol U.S.A.!!!
Just woke up from a coma?
Racial comment? Thug? Are thugs of only one race? Now what race thinks that applies to them? And why? The first time I ever remember the phrase being used it was in reference to the gangs during Prohibition. Those were white guys. Mostly.
Ummmm......nice try. Yeah.....racial comment. Goggle "thug life" and see how many references you get to white folks. For the last twenty years or so the word "thug" and phrase "thug life" have pretty much been exclusively applied to blacks. CD titles, lyrics, tattoos (hip hop queen Rihanna [Limbaugh has a couple of other words that apply to her] has a "Thug LIfe" tat), etc. are integral in a significant part of the black culture just as walking around with your "pants on the ground" (which is supposedly to show solidarity to black thugs in prison - belts aren't allowed there).
You're forgiven though........with your reference to "Prohibition" my guess is you're too old to have a clue.
Not a try at anything...just an open honest statement of opinion(although I can understand how you may have been thrown by the concept of open honesty). Point two I have done nothing to be forgiven for...a little more recent...I don't need to fight to prove I'm right I don't need to be forgiven. (The Who) I would venture a guess anyone that is completely ignorant of history is a little more clueless than I and therefore doomed to repeat mistakes unnecessarily. I personally make nothing about race, having served in the military for 28 years, for one reason, so all people tmay have the right to voice their opinion even about me. I welcome the rhetoric. I just regret it can not, or perhaps is can be, face to face so that you could learn some not so old mules still have a pretty good kick. And some old soldiers never do fade away. I hope none were offended beyond the offensive.
"Thug" is not a racial comment. Bush Jr. called Sadaam Huseins men "thugs and criminals."
If the term is starting to be associated with blacks, well, that's just math.
Yes there are all colors in thug life, race has nothing to do with it. M&M dresses like a thug.
Well instead of going off topic like alot of people do here is what I think about this situation. I think the Police Chief is out of line in handing down this suspension, only if he posted these remarks on his own time. If he did post these remarks on his own time, then if it were me I would find myself a very good civil lawyer and begin suing the city. However if he posted this from a city computer and/or was on the clock then he should be hung out to dry
It was a COMMENT like this COMMENT. what happen to FREE SPEECH !!!!!!!!!!!
Call a spade a spade, No need for butt kissing. Tired of people cowing down to the self righteous people that like the spew the racist mantra. Everyone is a racist to some degree or they wouldn't be human.
Yes we are.
Maybe the officer had a good point...
Who doesn't shoot off their mouth sometimes? Probably a bad choice of words in this post trayvon era.On the other hand,it is this life ,this attitude,this style of dressing that is indicative of a willingness to live and behave outside accepted social norms.Norms that show a desire to be productive,open,and a good citizen.Judging a book by its' cover may not be the ultimate guide to a persons' behavior,but it is a start. Cops may very well live or die by their gut assessment on a moments notice.
His only mistake...the mic was on.
Here is a link to the updated photo of Trayvon. I understand the family putting out a photo which serves them and Trayvon better, but the left wing media needs to be showing an updated photo, not one form 4 years, 4 in, and 40 pounds ago.
Lets try this again without the www in the beginning. foxnews.com/us/2012/03/27/media-matters-honcho-sorry-after-blasting-drudge-for-trayvon-photo/
Walking home with a bag of skittles wearing a hoodie is acting like a thug?
The cop's comment is simply a paraphrase of the old saying, "live by the sword, die by the sword."
It's a perfectly suitable comment in this case. The kid, judging by his gold teeth and his tweets (both of which were public information, by their very nature), aspired to the gangster lifestyle.
My question is why the Jesse Jackson / Al Sharpton crowd hasn't picked up on this dangerous trend. As "leaders" of the black community, they are missing a very important lesson if they don't point out that trying to mold your personality and appearance after a gang (ie., criminal) lifestyle is about the worst thing that a young person (black or white) could do, especially if they are trying to defeat negative stereotypes.
Live by the sword die by the sword is the same thing as walk down the streets with a hoodie on and get your brains blown out? Some of you are far.... Very far out there... Why not go on the fox website????
This kid didn't "walk down the street in a hoodie and get his brains blown out." There is a lot more to this case than that, like the kid's background (along with Zimmerman's), as well as the way the fight started between these two people. According to the public information, the kid emulated the gangster role model, both in his life before this incident, and as the incident unfolded. This is what the cop was referring to, and it's causing a serious deterioration of values among our youth.
Oversimplifying the issue is what the Jackson/Sharpton crowd does to flare up tensions between whites and blacks, for the specific purpose of building hate and keeping themselves relevant.
He should have "chosen better words?" He should choose a better attitude.
Zimmerman was wrong in his actions to pursue Martin the way he did but right in protecting himself from harm or aggression with deadly force. Martin was not a thug because he wore a hoodie and was not wrong because he was in the area but he certainly acted like a thug when he purportedly struck Zimmerman. Once Martin attacked Zimmerman, regardless of Zimmerman's pursuit or words, his rights ended and because of his violent actions so did his life. This is a tragedy for sure. One young man is dead and one mans life is ruined. Lesson, stay calm and don't loose your cool. And oh yea, if you act or dress like a media glamorized thug because you think it is cool don't be surprised if some people think you are.