Prosecutor put on leave for offensive online posts
Attorney in San Bernardino County D.A.’s office targeted Waters and Obama.
A prosecutor in the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office has been placed on administrative leave after writing offensive social media comments.
The San Bernardino Sun first reported that the office’s lead gang prosecutor, Michael Selyem, was under investigation for rants targeting U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), former First Lady Michelle Obama, Mexican immigrants and the victim of a police shooting.
In a news conference Monday, San Bernardino County Dist. Atty. Michael Ramos said he was offended by the comments.
And in a written statement, Ramos said: “The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office does not condone hate, discrimination or incitement of violence. Our community and the entire criminal justice system depends on having fair, ethical, and unbiased prosecutors.”
The Sun reported that Selyem, who joined the office 12 years ago, wrote of Waters: “Being a loud-mouthed c#nt in the ghetto you would think someone would have
shot this bitch by now …”
The newspaper also reported that Selyem got into an online argument with someone over the shooting of a civilian by police, writing that the person “got exactly what he deserved…. You reap what you sow.”
It was unclear which police shooting he was referring to.
“As the district attorney, I was really concerned with comments regarding officerinvolved shootings, because we handle those cases, as you know, on a daily basis,” Ramos said at the news conference. “To make any comments … impacts the ability for us to ensure the integrity of this office.”
The district attorney’s office received information June 28 regarding negative comments posted online by Selyem, Ramos said. The district attorney said there were “more than several” complaints. Staff and managers spoke and then contacted human resources and “took immediate steps to start a personnel investigation.”
“This could end up being some form of disciplinary action, up to termination,” Ramos said. “We haven’t decided that yet. We’re following the rules and regulations of California.”
An assistant district attorney has been assigned to look at cases Selyem handled in the gang unit.
Ramos said there is no indication that Selyem had any type of bias regarding his cases, but “that’s not to say we won’t review them, especially if there’s a request to do so.”
Though there is not a specific social media policy in place, Ramos said, there are policies regarding professional conduct as a prosecutor.
“You’re a prosecutor 24/7; it’s not an 8-to-5 job,” Ramos said. “The public looks at you as leaders in the community.”