Bethel Heights part-time officer fired over Facebook comments

BENTONVILLE -- A part-time Bethel Heights police officer was fired Tuesday after the chief viewed comments he made on social media critical of the Black Lives Matter movement, among other posts, according to Cpl. Chasity Mahan.

Mahan, a spokeswoman for the Bethel Heights Police Department, said she is the administrator of the department's Facebook page and she received messages Tuesday morning concerning David Hastings' comments on Facebook.

Mahan said she sent the postings to Bethel Heights Police Chief Rick Moore, and Hastings was fired Tuesday from his part-time position.

Hastings could not be reached for comment. No phone number nor Facebook page in his name could be found Tuesday afternoon.

Hastings also posted the word "retarded" with a photograph of a black person holding a sign, Mahan said. She said the posts also concerned Hastings giving advice on how to avoid being shot by police. Mahan said the advice wasn't part of any police training Hastings received from the department.

Hastings also claimed in a post that black people are more likely to disobey police than white people, Mahan said.

"The views that he has are his and not the other officers' with our department," she said.

"We have had the opportunity to view the comments and views expressed by Mr. Hastings," the department's Facebook page said Tuesday. "To maintain the integrity of our officers and our department, please understand the views expressed were views of Mr. Hastings and not of the Bethel Heights officers or department."

Hastings has been a part-time officer with the department for about a year.

"We never had any issues with Hastings and no one ever called to complain about him," Mahan said.

NW News on 09/28/2016

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