SALISBURY, N.C. — A Salisbury police officer is out of a job Friday night, accused of posting "inflammatory" and "racially insensitive" comments on Facebook.
Angry community members said the posts had to do with the police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. The officer has been with the Salisbury Police Department since 1992.
The police chief fired him for Facebook posts that he said are against city policy.
Salisbury's police chief wouldn't release the Facebook comment made by Patrol Officer William Torrence.
In a letter released Friday, the chief said, the officer's comment was "inappropriate and inflammatory" and was made "concerning current events taking place in our nation."
Community activist Kenneth Hardin said a tipster told him about the comment nearly two weeks ago, saying it was racially insensitive and dealt with the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson.
"I was told there were some racial epithets that were used. The 'n-word' was used," Hardin said.
Hardin said community leaders pushed the city to do something about the comments. He said since nothing happened, he called the chief of police.
"Initially the discussion was suspension and diversity training. I said, 'Absolutely not.' Something like this could result in the same thing that happened in Ferguson. So I said anything short of termination will be unacceptable," Hardin said.
A friend of Torrence was shocked to hear the news.
"It blows my mind. I just don't believe it," Kathy Allen said.
The friend said Torrence is a good man, who helped her recover when her house burned down a few years ago.
"I'm about to cry standing here 'cause that's not the Bill I know. Real humble, real sweet guy do anything for you, him and his family," the friend said.
Channel 9 stopped by a possible address for the officer, but no one answered the door.
Records show Torrence had two suspensions on his record -- one in 1994, the other in 2012.
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