Lucas County deputy fired for social media posts on Black Lives Matter
8/18/2016A Lucas County Sheriff's Office deputy has been fired after inappropriate Facebook posts referring to the Black Lives Matter movement, according to internal affairs.
Deputy Thomas Hillabrand, 57, a 19-year veteran of the office, was terminated from his position Wednesday. Internal affairs determined Deputy Hillabrand on July 23 wrote an online message about his trip to Taco Bell.
He said a black employee made comments critical law enforcement while he was in uniform. The post disparaged two of the restaurant workers. The deputy also posted he may have acted differently “in the pre-camera days.”
A separate post referenced a way to clear the highways of “BLM,” or Black Lives Matter members, with a photo of a driver called “the traffic buster.”
His Facebook account identified him as an employee of the office.
A review board sustained four administrative charges against the deputy, including making racial and sexual remarks and/or harassment and conduct unbecoming an employee of the office.
Detective Rob Sarahman of the internal affairs bureau said law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard than the general public.
“His conduct and actions were outside the policies and procedures of the Lucas County Sheriff's Office,” the detective said.
Deputy Hillabrand could not be immediately reached for comment.
Contact Ryan Dunn at: rdunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6095, or on Twitter @rdunnblade.