RedGage

When will people learn that when you post something on the Internet, not just on MySpace or Facebook, but definitely there, you are opening yourself up for a whole world of hurt? Ah, yes, never.

A pair of Durham, North Carolina police officers are under investigation for racial slurs or other derogatory remarks made against President-elect Barack Obama made on their MySpace pages.

According to Police Chief Jose L. Lopez Sr.,

"There's no exact words that were said. It wasn't a racial slur, but we're still investigating it."

Before anyone chimes in about freedom of speech, there is a clause in the police department's code of conduct, under the heading "Private Life." It says that an officer's "character and conduct while off duty must always be exemplary, thus maintaining a position of respect in the community in which he or she lives and serves. The officer's personal behavior must be beyond reproach."

The local branch of the NAACP requested that the postings be made public. Durham's NAACP president Fred Foster Jr. said to a local newspaper:

"We want to know if there will be transparency about those comments to the community and what disciplinary action if any will be taken against these officers. We believe that if these comments are against people of color, then it will be hard for those officers to serve and protect without prejudice and that they should not be allowed to wear the uniform representing public trust."

City Manager Tom Bonfield was notified of the investigation late Tuesday afternoon, and asked Lopez to complete it quickly.

Lopez added:

"As a police officer, it doesn't matter where you do it, if you provide disservice to the organization, it violates the code of conduct. It is a high standard that officers are held accountable to."