Bozeman (Montana) officer resigns over Facebook comments

WorldNow, Montana's News Station ^ | September 3, 2009 | Erin Yeykal

[Brandonmark]

Bozeman police officer resigns over Facebook comments

Reporting from Z7 in Bozeman

A Bozeman police officer embroiled in controversy over comments he posted on his Facebook page has resigned.

Cody Anderson turned in his resignation Wednesday, Bozeman City Manager Chris Kukulski said at Thursday's weekly city press conference. The resignation went into effect Wednesday.

Anderson resigned because he thought it was in the best interest of the police department in light of the controversial comments he posted on this Facebook page, Kukulski said, adding that he agreed with Anderson's decision.

Anderson's decision to resign was his alone and he was not pressured into it, Kukulski said.

"I think he did the right thing under the circumstances...We all make mistakes in life and the consequences with those are sometimes commensurate with the error. Hopefully, going forward, he'll have other opportunities, and I think the way he's handled this is going to help him in the future," Kukulski said.

Kukulski added that Anderson is now a private citizen and has asked that media not try to contact him and that he has left town.

After news of the comments was made public in August, Anderson issued a formal apology to the city and its residents and his fellow officers. He said he was sorry for portraying the officers in a negative light, and also apologized writing such things as, "I think there should be a law saying police can take people to jail for being stupid," on his Facebook page.

"You place a great deal of trust in your police department to protect your property, lives and lives of your loved ones. I have damaged that trust and placed it in jeopardy and for that I am sorry. My comments are mine and mine alone. They do not reflect an attitude or atmosphere within the Bozeman Police Department," he said at the time.

Anderson's Facebook profile came into question after a civil lawsuit was filed against him, the City of Bozeman and others.

The lawsuit alleges that Anderson wrongfully arrested a Bozeman man last February and also states that entries from the cop's Facebook profile indicate the officer's "lack of respect for citizens' rights and his willingness to abuse his position of authority and is a breach of the public trust."

At an earlier press conference, deputy police chief Marty Kent said the department is working on a policy that addresses officers and their social networking sites.

This isn't the first time that Facebook has caused headaches for civic leaders in Bozeman. Earlier this summer, an uproar over Bozeman's "social media" policy in hiring practices led to a firestorm of criticism and eventual retraction of the policy.

Story written by Erin Yeykal with reporting by Dan Boyce.

[evad]

""I think there should be a law saying police can take people to jail for being stupid,""

I guess they'd be hauling him off to the pokey post haste.

[Freddd]

Wow those Muslim states really don’t like the police, eh? Oh yeah, they want the ‘civilian force’ installed, eh? No,it won’t be called Taliban.....

[JLS]

At an earlier press conference, deputy police chief Marty Kent said the department is working on a policy that addresses officers and their social networking sites.

No they don't need to teach you guys not to leave evidence of their abusive inclinations. They need a program to teach them to respect the citizens of your community.

[Buck W.]

“I think there should be a law saying police can take people to jail for being stupid”

I agree with him!

[staytrue]

I happen to think one of America’s greatest strenghs lies in every citizen’s god given right to stupidity.

[Graybeard58]

“I think there should be a law saying police can take people to jail for being stupid”

I agree with him!

We'd have to have new elections for about 90% of the congress plus one for the presidency.

[cayuga]

I happen to think one of America’s greatest strenghs lies in every citizen’s god given right to stupidity.

They used that right on November 4 last year.

How's that working out for you?

[SaraJohnson]

I guess you are not from here. Montana as Muslim state?

America’s police officers are supposed to be protecting the people’s freedoms and safety - stupid and smart alike. They have been screwing up on that job for a few years now and this silly little boy with adult responsibilities got nailed.

[TaMoDee]

Every convicted criminal is proof of the Officer’s words.

[B-Chan]

My comments are mine and mine alone. They do not reflect an attitude or atmosphere within the Bozeman Police Department

LOL

Yeah, right!

[Pan_Yan]

There was a comedian that joked once that everyone should have gun with little suction cup darts in their car. Every time you saw someone do a bone head move like a left turn from the right lane you would shoot them with a dart and a little flag would come out that said “stupid” on it. Once you had five darts on your car a cop would pull you over and give you a ticket for being an idiot.

[smithandwesson76subgun]

One of my buddies used to be the county marine patrol officer. He would try to talk to the people and tell them what they were doing wrong. When they would start to argue was when he got out the ticket book. He referred to those tickets as stupid tickets.

[Hepsabeth]

“I think there should be a law saying police can take people to jail for being stupid”

I agree with him!

************

Posting that statement on Facebook was pretty stupid.