"Frustrated and disappointed" that they couldn't discipline a police officer who posted antisemitic comments on social media before he became a cop, Cleveland's mayor and police chief announced changes in how they screen new hires, Cleveland.com reports. The city will now require social media checks for all new hires, require training for implicit and explicit bias for officers, firefighters and EMS, and mandate cultural competency training for police officers.
The officer, Ismail Quran, wrote posts that glorified Adolf Hitler, defended the terrorist group Hamas and spread antisemitic conspiracy theories. He also used antisemitic slurs in several posts and joined a Facebook group in 2017 that honored Osama bin Laden. He also posted on Twitter, "i would have killed all the jews of the world, but i kept some to show the world why i killed them.” Because his posts were made before he was hired, and there were no social media checks before his employment in 2018, the city is unable to discipline Quran for his posts. The American Jewish Committee called Quran’s posts “vicious” and “unbecoming.” StopAntisemitism Executive Director Liora Rez, a former Cleveland resident, asked the city to revoke Quran's 2019 "Officer of the Year" award. “While we appreciate the very strong wording of the statement by Mayor Bibb and Police Chief Drummond, the sentiment is meaningless without action. If the city’s hands are tied in firing Ismail Quran, then at least rescind the award bestowed upon him which will reinforce the values the City of Cleveland is claiming to uphold.”
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