HARRISBURG -- A Facebook post from the Harrisburg police chief that takes a sideswipe at kneeling NFL players is raising eyebrows among some people who see racist overtones.
But Chief David Morris said that was not the intent of the post at all.
Monday evening, Morris posted on another Harrisburg officer's Facebook page a picture of a police SUV in front of the Chicago city skyline.
The text said, "BREAKING NEWS: The Chicago Police Dept has replaced all sirens with the national anthem, to force suspects to stop running and take a knee."
The post, which has since beeen taken down, is related to the heated controversy over some NFL players, primarily African American, taking a knee during the national anthem, in protest of the killing of unarmed black motorists by police.
The Facebook post seems to imply that in this context, "suspects" are black.
Morris, however, was adamant Thursday he did not intend the post to have racial overtones at all. Instead, it was a commentary on disrespecting the national anthem, he said.
"I posted for one reason. When someone disrespects the anthem, it's disrespecting the USA," Morris said.
He said it upsets him that anyone would read the post as racist.
"There is not a racial bone in my body," he said. "In hindsight, I would not do it again, but I think the criticism is unfair."
After reflection, however, Morris said he sees why some people might misunderstand his intention.
He said to him the word "suspect" simply means a person suspected of committing a crime, regardless of race or gender.
"Those reading race into 'suspect' are reading into it on their own," he said. "There is no race in 'suspect.' It's all equal."
The post, and an initial lack of reaction from the city of Harrisburg, which employs Morris, didn't sit well with Simone Neal, a black Harrisburg resident who teaches school in Marion.
"The city hasn't made an official response that I'm aware of, but they should," Neal said.
Neal reposted it on her own Facebook page to call attention to it.
After being informed of the post Tuesday morning, Mayor John McPeek said he ordered it to be removed. The post remained until the early afternoon. Morris said he attempted to remove the post upon receiving the order from McPeek, but had difficulty actually doing so.
"I couldn't get the three little dots to come up," he said, indicating the nondescript icon Facebook uses to make page or post edits. "It just wouldn't do it, but then some time after lunch when I tried, they came up and I was able to remove it."
Morris was named Harrisburg's police chief in February, following James "Whipper" Johnson. Morris has been with the Harrisburg department for 31 years.
Harrisburg Police and Fire Commissioner Beth Montfort said the city has an ordinance designed to prevent inappropriate social media posts.
"We do have a policy that you cannot put anything out there that would embarrass the city or its employees and I apologize on their behalf," she said.
However, Montfort said she is certain Morris did not intend the post to be a commentary on race and criminal behavior.
"Our police officers are a great group of guys, and there's not a racial thing there," she said. "They're just not like that. We've got a really good team, and they work hard to protect and serve, regardless of skin color."
To Neal, however, the post indicates underlying racial tension.
"Many residents found it inappropriate, ignorant and racist," she said. "Morris holds a position of power, influence and authority within the community. His actions, along with those of our other local officials, set the tone for the culture and climate of our town."
Montfort said she intends to revisit the city's social media policy at Thursday's city council meeting as a reminder to city employees about what is posted on social media.
"In the end, we are professionals and we have to act like professionals," she said. "I'm going to bring it up Thursday and remind both departments (police and fire) that it is in force."
Prior to Thursday's city council meeting, Harrisburg Mayor John McPeek said he did not know what, if any, action the city would take regarding the matter. He said he plans to make a statement about it, though.
