Police officer Melissa Adamson fired over apparent racist social media post

MCKEESPORT, Pa —

A part-time police officer in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, was terminated Tuesday after an apparent racist social media post involving the officer began circulating online, the mayor of McKeesport said.

The post in question is a photo of Melissa Adamson in her police uniform with a caption that read, “I’m the law today” and ended with a racial slur. The image appeared on social media Tuesday afteoon and was shared hundreds of times.

McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko addressed the issue on Facebook, writing, in part: “This post displays a degree of conduct and character that is far different from what I would expect from an officer in this city.”

The Pitcai Police Department also responded to the post, in which the officer appears to be wearing a Pitcai police uniform. According to the department’s Facebook post, the woman is a former officer of the Pitcai police force. “As the picture alone does not constitute misconduct, it is symbolic speech and protected under the First Amendment. However, it is the content of the text in the picture which is unacceptable,” the Police Department’s Facebook post read, in part.