UPDATE: Fox 2 News management spoke with Ethical Society of Police President Heather Taylor this morning saying that they are “aggressively handling” the issue of their reporter, Bobby Hughes, making a sick joke on Facebook about Michael Brown Jr.’s mother and her son’s shooting death.
In a July 22 Facebook post about Lezley McSpadden being invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention, Hughes commented, “She’s going to talk about the new lead diet she’s endorsed. Five servings and you can lose 200 lbs in two years easily.”
On July 26, the Ethical Society of Police, an organization that represents 200 minority police officers, released a statement demanding that Hughes apologize to the community and Brown’s family for his remarks.
“The reference to ‘lead,’ the loss of ‘200 lbs in two years,’ and other words in this statement are a clear reference to Michael Brown being shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson in 2014,” according to the society’s statement.
Many community members are now demanding that the station fire Hughes or face a boycott, Taylor said. Fox 2 managers would not tell Taylor if they plan on dismissing Hughes, she said.
Taylor also called St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Sam Dotson on July 28 to see if the police officer Lt. Jerry Foster, who made the initial Facebook post, would be punished.
Dotson told her they have started an internal investigation, she said. Taylor will also send Dotson at least 15 other inappropriate and racist posts on social media that city officers have made.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
ORIGINAL STORY: Black St. Louis police officers said they are appalled by a white city officer’s inappropriate Facebook post about Michael Brown Jr.’s mother, Lezley McSpadden, being invited to participate in the Democratic National Convention – along with the “disheartening” reply by Bobby Hughes, a photographer and reporter at Fox 2 News.
The city officer, Lt. Jerry Foster (named as Jerry Allan on Facebook), made the original post on Friday, July 22, which The St. Louis American obtained from community members who were offended.
Foster stated, “Why not let them speak. It is the Democratic Criminal Party. How fitting.” Below his comment was a link to a story critical of McSpadden being invited to speak at the convention. Several racist and aggressive comments followed – including one from Hughes and some from former city police officers.
Hughes replied to Foster, “She’s going to talk about the new lead diet she’s endorsed. Five servings and you can lose 200 lbs in two years easily.”
On Tuesday, July 26, the Ethical Society of Police, an organization that represents 200 minority police officers, released a statement demanding that Hughes apologize to the community and Brown’s family for his remarks.
“The reference to ‘lead,’ the loss of ‘200 lbs in two years,’ and other words in this statement are a clear reference to Michael Brown being shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson in 2014,” the Ethical Society stated.
“The trivial manner in which Mr. Hughes refers to the brutal death of Michael Brown is disheartening. We should all seek to behave in a manner that’s humane to others, especially when someone has experienced such a loss as Mrs. McSpadden and the Brown family.”
The Ethical Society contacted Fox 2 News, and Hughes removed his posted replies.
Fox 2 did not return The St. Louis American‘s repeated requests for comment. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department told the American that “inflammatory or racially insensitive remarks” on social media undermine the department’s work to bridge gaps in the community. The spokesperson did not indicate whether or not the department or Foster would issue an apology to Brown’s family.
Community members have since identified the other people who participated in insulting McSpadden as retired city officers Daniel Peek and Michael Lowry and former city officer Joyce Dreste. Steven Burle, who clicked “like” on Foster’s post, currently serves on the department’s unit that investigates officer-involved shootings.
Sgt. Heather Taylor, president of the Ethical Society, told The American that all the police officers on the post should apologize to Brown’s family as well.
“They have helped to continue the divide between the police and our community,” said Taylor, who serves in the homicide unit. “We each have the right to freedom of speech, under the First Amendment. However, we must be careful that our rights don’t harm others with our own hatred, intolerance, and ignorance as we use that right.”
Later in the evening on July 26, Hughes sent this apology to the Ethical Society:
“I would like to apologize for the hurtful posts I recently made on my Facebook page. I specifically want to tell Michael Brown’s family how very sorry I am. As a parent, I can’t imagine losing a child and what I wrote was incredibly insensitive considering all that Mrs. Lezley McSpadden has been through. My two inappropriate posts are by no means a reflection of the views at KTVI/KPLR. They are a news organization that prides itself on being fair. I on the other hand was anything but fair – and for that I am deeply sorry.”
News of Hughes’ post quickly spread through the community. On social media, many called for a boycott against Fox 2 until Hughes steps down. Taylor said she feels the community’s demand is understandable.
“Fox 2 has an obligation to be fair,” Taylor said, “and the fair thing is for him to step down.”
