TOWSON, Md. – Members of the Baltimore County police department have expressed anger over comments posted on the social media page of an employee of the county’s 911 center.
On the personal Facebook page of the employee, Kelli Murray, the post shared a tone of those upset over the recent grand jury decision not to indict officers in the police-involved deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner respectively. The decisions have led to protests across the country, including in Maryland, as many express frustration over alleged police brutality.
The post came to light prior to the shooting deaths of two New York police officers, who investigators said came at the hands of Ismaaiyl Brinsley. Baltimore County police said Brinsley shot his ex-girlfriend Shaneka Thompson in Owings Mills before he headed to New York to kill the officers and then himself.
The post also comes as a Baltimore City police officer was shot following a traffic stop earlier this month. Officer Andrew Groman remains hospitalized in fair condition.
“So, it’s okay to KILL black children and their lives do not matter because they may or may NOT have made a bad decision,” the post on Murray’s page read, a post which was shared by police-related Facebook pages across the country.
“And Police officers should be able to kill them and get away with it because they CHOOSE to accept a position that PAYS them to put their lives in danger…I would rather MY son to be approached by so-called THUGS, then for him to encounter any policeman…
“This in no way discredits what SOME police officers do. They CHOSE a career that happens to put their lives in danger, (sic) so does Bge workers, so do construction workers, so does firefighters. I can go on & on…”
Baltimore County police spokeswoman Elise Armacost said the department was aware of the post. She stressed 911 employees are county employees and not part of the department.
Ellen Kobler, a spokesman for Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, confirmed Murray is employed as an emergency communications technician in Baltimore County’s 911 Center and has served in that position for almost eight years.
Cole Weston, president of the Baltimore County FOP Lodge #4, said many officers have expressed outrage over the comments and are concerned about having a person with anti-police sentiments working with them in a potentially life-threatening situation.
“I’m troubled by the comments, even if they were made on a private Facebook page,” Weston said. “A 911 [technician] is part of the public safety network and you are communicating very sensitive information.
“The response I’ve received from the membership is one of concern. They don’t want to be working with someone that has expressed such anti-law enforcement views. This is a major trust issue and a legitimate concern from the membership.”
The FOP also posted the following statement on its website:
“The FOP has received several e-mails and phone calls in reference to a Facebook post by a county employee who works in the communications center. While we acknowledge this person’s 1st Amendment rights, we must proclaim that under no circumstances do we, as an organization, think this expression is appropriate for this person’s current job in communications.
“In the law enforcement community, dispatchers serve as a lifeline to get us accurate information and backup when we call for them. We rely on this hoping they act promptly and without prejudices that will put our lives in jeopardy. In Baltimore County, dispatchers do an excellent job of accomplishing this most difficult and crucial task.
“This employee should not be allowed to continue in a position where she could jeopardize the safety of our police officers with her clear and now public views on law enforcement.”
Kobler confirmed Kamenetz was aware of the comments as well.
In a statement, Kamenetz would only say he respects those that serve in the police department, while stressing that all people have freedom of speech, even if those words are unpopular. He would not comment further, Kobler said.
Here is Kamenetz’s complete statement:
“I have become aware of a statement directed toward police officers that was posted on a Baltimore County employee’s private Facebook account last week before the tragic murders of two NYC police officers.
“I have the utmost respect for the members of the Baltimore County Police Department and for police officers across the nation. These men and women risk their lives each and every day to protect us all. I have witnessed firsthand the heartfelt grief that our County residents have felt when a police officer was killed in the line of duty. We may not say it too often, but we can never say it enough: We are indebted to our police officers for their faithful and unselfish service.”
“At the same time, individuals are constitutionally protected by the right to free speech, and that protection does not end when someone chooses to become a County employee. In these very emotional times, I hope that we all strive to discuss very complex issues in a positive and productive manner.”