Officer suspended for social media post on Parkland students’ ‘die-in’ protests

A Florida police officer has been suspended without pay for five days and will undergo sensitivity training after he said in a Facebook post that he hoped Parkland school shooting survivors get hit by a car during a “die-in” protest.

CBS 4 Miami reported Wednesday that Coconut Creek Police Department officer Brian Valenti will face the disciplinary action after he wrote on Facebook that he hoped “some old lady loses control of her car” in the parking lot of a Publix where gun control activists from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were protesting.

Valenti has since deleted the post.

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Coconut Creek police Chief Butch Arenal told the network that Valenti “made a horrible error in judgment.”

“When we are on or off duty we have a special role in our community and he understands that,” Arenal said. “He is extremely remorseful and is very embarrassed by the situation.”

He added that the police department had worked closely with the Parkland students in the months since a shooter opened fire in a mass shooting at the high school.

“There’s just nothing worse that could happen than to create a perception that our officers have any ill will towards these kids,” Arenal said.

The group of students, including vocal Parkland shooting survivor and gun control activist David Hogg, was protesting Publix over its campaign contribution to a Republican gubernatorial candidate who has been supported by the National Rifle Association.

The grocery chain later announced they were suspending their political contributions.

CBS 4 reported that Hogg and his mother are expected to meet with Arenal, and possibly Valenti.