Pennsylvania police officer fired for 'racist and derogatory' email about Black people, journalists and politicians
Sgt. Jeff Annunziata, in an email to Mayor Joe Schember and Erie Times-News reporters, criticized the Black community, protesters and journalists.
www.usatoday.com
A longtime Pennsylvania police officer was fired Thursday after sending a "racist and derogatory" email to the mayor and local news reporters.
Erie Mayor Joe Schember announced the firing of 62-year-old Sgt. Jeff Annunziata at a press conference, alongside Police Chief Dan Spizarny. In his email, Annunziata said Black people seeking social justice “cannot take care of their own or anyone else without playing the race card.” He also defended his profession and criticized journalists.
“Sgt. Jeff Annunziata sent an email to members of the media containing racist and derogatory statements,” Schember said. “I condemn these statements. I am appalled and disgusted by the racial insensitivity of this email.”
The Erie Times-News of the USA TODAY Network
first reported the contents of Annunziata's email about six hours before Schember’s announcement.
Spizarny said he immediately suspended Annunziata after an internal affairs investigation found he had sent the email from his city account and identified himself as a police officer.
“I speak for the command staff when I say that we are all sickened by the language of Mr. Annunziata,” Spizarny said.
The city’s solicitor, Ed Betza, said Annunziata was not working when he sent the email, adding the union representing city police, Erie Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 7, has 10 days to challenge Annunziata’s termination.
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“It’s their legal right to do so,” Betza said.
Annunziata, the chief traffic investigator for Erie police and a 34-year veteran of the police bureau, earned an annual base pay of $103,631, according to city records.
He sent his email shortly before 7 p.m. Monday, the same day Schember had announced that another
Erie police officer who kicked a seated protester would receive three days unpaid suspension and be required to undergo sensitivity training.
In his email, Annunziata also claimed that citizens “do not understand compliance;” asserted that most police officers try to avoid confrontation; suggested without evidence that the Clinton Foundation and billionaire George Soros are funding Black Lives Matter and antifa; and mentioned that Erie officer Richard Burchick was shot and killed in 1991 by a Black man.