Florida police K-9 officer Brian Valenti is facing backlash over an offensive comment written under a post involving Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg. On Friday, Hogg and his fellow #NeverAgain activists held a “die-in” demonstration in the parking lot of Publix to protest the supermarket chain’s financial donations towards Florida gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, who has openly supported the National Rifle Association.
Hogg and the other activists drew chalk outlines in the parking lot to represent the 17 people who were shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February. Valenti allegedly wrote on the Facebook page of Coral Springs/Parkland, “Hope some old lady loses control of her car in that lot. Jus saying.....” The Sun-Sentinel has obtained a screenshot of the comment, which has since been deleted.
After discovering the comment, a woman named Kim Simonson took a screenshot, and emailed it to his superiors. "Whether someone agrees with these students or not, it is in very poor taste for a police officer to make the following comment regarding students that have just been through a tragic shooting," Simonson wrote and suggested that Valenti get suspended or fired.
"The officer admitted that it was in poor taste, and indicated that it was meant as a joke, but certainly didn’t come off that way,” Police Chief Butch Arenal said in response to the comment. “It is for that reason that he thought it better to remove the post. He will be offering an apology, as he has indicated that he wants to do whatever he has to do to make it right."
Speaking about Valenti's punishment, Police union leader Rod Skirvin said: “We are going to speak to the chief on Tuesday when he goes back to work. There will be disciplinary repercussions for him.”
