VINCENT, Ala. — A racist text message sent by a police officer has prompted officials in a small Alabama town to disband their police department and fire the chief and assistant police chief.
Vincent Mayor James Lattimore confirmed Thursday that Police Chief James Srigley and Assistant Chief John L. Goss have been fired, al.com reported.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on Friday condemned the actions of the two officers and said it supports the city “in providing emergency law enforcement services to the citizens of (Vincent) at this time.”
In the message that recently surfaced on social media, someone identified as “752″ wrote, “What do you call a pregnant slave?” An unidentified recipient replied twice: “?” and “??”
“752” replies: “BOGO Buy One Get One Free”
“It has torn this community apart. It doesn’t matter what color we are as long as we treat people right,” City Councilor Corey Abrams said during Thursday’s council meeting.
Lattimore said Tuesday that “appropriate action has been taken” against the employee who allegedly sent the text, though he declined to name the person or anyone involved at the time.
The city’s website lists three people in its department: Srigley, Goss and Officer Lee Carden.
During the council meeting, Lattimore announced that he had suspended the chief and assistant chief, and the council voted to terminate the agency. Latimer said Carden submitted his resignation via text message just hours after the City Council voted to disband the department.
Located in central Alabama, southeast of Birmingham, Vincent has a population of just under 2,000. Located in Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties.
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