ONLY ON ABC-7: Veteran El Paso police officer under scrutiny for posting anti-Muslim content online

Apparent racist, violent and bigoted social media posts from law enforcement officers have been called to the attention of the public in at least five police departments across the country, including El Paso — where a police internal affairs review is underway.

A concerned ABC-7 viewer sent several screenshots of anti-Islamic posts, shared by a self-identified El Paso police officer on his Facebook page.

“Islamofascism is militarized cult expansion,” the officer wrote above a shared post.

In another post, he wrote that Muslims follow “man-made perversions.”

The officer also shared a post that depicted a Quran, the Muslim holy book, burning in flames with the embedded caption “Let’s see how many of you have the balls to share this.”

El Paso police spokesman Sgt. Enrique Carrillo confirmed the posts came from a 30-year member of the force, whom ABC-7 is not identifying because the department is still reviewing the matter.

“I’m glad that people are bringing it forward and then have Internal Affairs take a look at it,” said Ron Martin, president of the El Paso Police Officers Association. “If it gets to the point where they need to be disciplined then discipline them.”

As public employees, police officers adhere to the City of El Paso Employee Handbook, which has a section dedicated to social media usage, warning about interactions that “can result in the public forming harmful opinions.”

“Unfounded or derogatory statements, misrepresentations, as well as any commentary, content, or image that is defamatory, pornographic, proprietary, harassing or libelous will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment,” the employee handbook states. “You can be held personally liable for commentary that is considered defamatory, obscene, proprietary or libelous by any offended party.”

In an exchange of emails regarding the officer’s posts, Carrillo wrote that the handbook only refers to “work-related issues.”

The policy reads, “The following guidelines apply to your work-related blogs, personal Web sites, postings on Facebook and other interactive sites, postings on video or picture sharing sites, or in the comments that you make online and in responding to comments from others either publicly or via email. These guidelines apply only to work-related issues and are not meant to infringe upon your personal interaction in social media or commentary online.”

“At this time we can’t tell you if there is a violation,” Carrillo responded, adding that the case “will have to be reviewed.”

El Paso only has one Islamic Center to serve the needs of Muslims compared to more than 70 churches for Catholics.

Despite the small Muslim population, Carrillo said officers are called upon to protect and serve everyone.

“Officers of the El Paso Police Department are expected to live to their oaths and hold true to the Department’s core values,” Carrillo wrote. “Upholding the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution and the law of the state of Texas and policies of the department.

Anyone who feels they have been treated unfairly or with prejudice can file a complaint at any regional command or with the Internal Affairs Department, Carrillo said.​​​​​​

“I don’t need somebody who is upset or ranting or raving about something making the entire police department look bad,” Martin observed.