Assistant police chief steps down after sharing meme on Facebook

A Louisiana assistant police chief has resigned after sharing what some consider a racially-charged meme on Facebook.

According to KADN, Wayne Welsh, of the Estherwood Police Department, shared photo Sunday depicting a cartoon mother forcing her daughter’s head under water. The meme was reportedly accompanied by the phrase,”When your daughters (sic) first crush is a little Negro boy.”

The post has since been deleted, but not before screenshots of Welsh’s post went viral on social media, the Sacramento Bee reports.

The Times reported Welsh initially tried to defend himself from the backlash Monday, stating, “Its (sic) not against the. Law if you share stuff on. Facebook. Its (sic). Social media. Internet.”

Welsh later posted an apology on his personal Facebook page, writing, “Well, I posted something on Facebook that made a lot of people mad. Well, I’m sorry for what happen (sic). Ya (sic) have a blessed day.”

The assistant police chief resigned Tuesday night after Estherwood Police Chief Ernest Villejoin announced that he had to take action because those views do not reflect that of the police department, according to KADN.

Villejoin told KADN he was shocked to hear about Welsh’s post after a number of people expressed their outrage to Estherwood City Hall.

“When I found out about it, I couldn’t believe I had to call him. I called him at work and asked him what the hell is going on,” Villejoin said.

According to KADN, Villejoin believes Welsh had no ill intentions.

“I know Wayne didn’t do this on purpose. He didn’t do this offend anybody. I apologize to anybody that it offended, believe me.”