McKeesport fires new officer for social media racial slur

Mayor calls her post unacceptable

A McKeesport police officer was dismissed from the force after city officials determined that she posted a racially inflammatory item on social media.

McKeesport Mayor Mike Cherepko posted a statement Tuesday on the city’s Facebook page explaining that the white officer, identified as Melissa Adamson, was a probationary employee in training and had only been hired as a parttime officer a few weeks ago.

The image, which was being passed along on social media, was a selfie showing Ms. Adamson in uniform with the statement “’m the law today,” followed by a racial slur.

“This post displays a degree of conduct and character that is far different from what I would expect from an officer in this city,” Mr. Cherepko wrote. “It is absolutely unacceptable. Without hesitation, my office and the police chief’s office immediately concluded that this officer’s actions will not be tolerated in the City of McKeesport. She has been relieved of her duties, and her employment has been terminated.”

Ms. Adamson could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Within hours, the mayor’s statement had been shared more than 180 times and generated more than 50 comments, with most applauding the firing and some mocking the “political correctness” of it.

“Thank you for taking immediate action toward the inappropriate behavior of officer Adamson,” read one post. “She disrespected the black community and is not fit for the uniform.”

But another comment said, “She may not have meant this in a racist way. People say [it] like people say ‘dude’ nowadays, like nothing.”