There were tough sanctions Thursday for a Cleveland police officer accused of making racist remarks on his personal cell phone.
The discipline calls to question an officer’s first amendment rights when they are off the job.
Since a federal judge sealed the transcript, it may never be known what exactly Officer Aaron Petitt said.
What is known, is that the 33-year-old Third District officer is suspended for six days without pay and will attend sensitivity training.
The reasons are outlined in federal documents obtained by Channel 3 News.
They allege Officer Petitt made disparaging remarks when referring to an Arabic male during a potential police action, that he failed to use de-escalation techniques in an incident on West 6th Street, and that he violated division standards by allowing his tattoos to be seen.
But there is concern that the sanctions may not be right, particularly when it comes to how internal affairs found out about the text.
According to a lawsuit filed by the police union, the text was only discovered during an investigation into a separate case and therefore an “unlawful intrusion.”
It was also sent from Officer Petitt’s personal phone while he was off the job.
The same investigation also alleges Fourth District Detective John Kraynik sent racists text messages regarding black football players.
As a result, he was ordered to go through sensitivity training.
The texts from both Petitt and Kraynik were sent to a retired officer who was at the center of the internal affairs investigation.
It all comes as the department works to mend racial tensions within the community.