Ross Greenwood, a police officer in Mentone, Alabama, had not removed the posts from his public Facebook account on Friday. One, shared to social media on June 14, depicts Floyd’s face printed onto a $20 bill. The caption alongside it read: “The Treasury Department will honor George Floyd by placing his portrait on the counterfeit $20 bill.”
Floyd, a Black Minneapolis resident, died on May 25 after now-former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes. He was arrested after an alleged attempt to purchase goods from nearby Cup Foods with a counterfeit $20 bill. His death sparked global demonstrations protesting police violence and denouncing systemic racism.
Another Facebook post, shared by Greenwood on June 19, referenced companies that announced rebranding efforts in the weeks that followed. The companies included Aunt Jemima, a Quaker Oats subsidiary, which acknowledged its logo’s racist imagery.
“BREAKING NEWS: Quaker Oats officially changes name to Shaquille O’atmeal,” read the June 19 post shared to Greenwood’s Facebook page.
Greenwood told local news outlet AL.com on Thursday that he was placed on leave after complaints were filed to the Mentone Police department about his social media posts. Greenwood said he has not removed the posts because “there’s something on Facebook that’s going to offend somebody.” The status of his future employment with the Mentone police is dependent upon the outcome of an upcoming termination hearing, AL.com reported.
Speaking to the Fort Payne Times-Journal on Thursday, Mentone Police Chief Gene McKnee and Mayor Rob Hammond confirmed that Greenwood was placed on administrative leave pending results of an ongoing investigation. Hammond told the outlet a complaint was filed against Hammond for posting “racist comments on his personal Facebook page.”
“On the morning of Monday, June 29, Chief McKee met with town attorney Pat Tate to discuss the results of his investigation. It is the Town’s contention that these postings are a violation of the Mentone Police Department’s code of conduct,” Hammond said, according to the outlet. “Monday afternoon, Officer Greenwood was placed on paid leave pending a due process hearing in front of an impartial hearing officer. The hearing will be scheduled in the next 10 days.”
Newsweek reached out to Mentone Police and Town Council for additional comments, but did not receive replies in time for publication.
