A veteran Chicago police detective is facing dismissal over hundreds of offensive social media posts that disparaged Blacks, Muslims, immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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Shawn Popow, who has been on the force for 20 years, posted the offensive comments and images on his Twitter and Facebook accounts from 2018 until he was informed that the Civilian Office of Police Accountability was reviewing his online activity, according to a report by COPA.
The oversight agency has recommended that Popow be fired, and a letter to the oversight agency from CPD Supt. Larry Snelling indicated he would move to terminate Popow.
“Det. Popow’s flagrant disregard for CPD policies, as well as the nature of the posts and the frequency with which he posted them, all suggest he was expressing his true views,” the COPA report states.
“Det. Popow’s posts disparage the same protected classes he took an oath to protect and serve, including African Americans, migrants, Muslims, the LGBTQ+ community and people who are disabled. Through his use of social media, Det. Popow has demonstrated that he is unable to treat all Chicago citizens with fairness and equity.”