Black officer is fired by Tampa police for using the N-word on bodycam and during an arrest - but defends it as a way of expressing 'culture and experiences among the African American community'
A black officer had been fired after a random audit of his bodycam captured him using the N-word multiple times, police have said.
Delvin White was fired Tuesday for 'violations of policy that prohibit discriminatory conduct', according to disposition letter released by the Tampa Police Department.
White - an eight year veteran of the department - was a resource officer at Middleton High School at the time of his firing.
He is said to have used the N-word while on the phone and directly to a person he was arresting on November 30, The Tampa Bay Times reported.
White told his supervisor he did not mean for the word to be derogatory, police said.
He added that he was using the word as it is 'commonly used in today's society as a means of shared culture and experiences among the African American community'.
Delvin White was fired Tuesday for 'violations of policy that prohibit discriminatory conduct', according to the Tampa Police Department
White was recorded using both the slur and the word 'ghetto' to reference a group of people while on the phone and driving home from an off-duty assignment on November 13, the letter said.
He later used it again while talking on the phone with his wife.
Camera footage also captured White using the word twice while arresting someone for trespassing on November 30, police said.
Tampa police Chief Brian Dugan said in a statement: 'Derogatory statements made by police officers jeopardize the trust that our department works to establish with our community.'
He added: 'Tampa Police officers are held to a higher standard and incidents like this negatively impact the entire law enforcement profession.'
White - an eight year veteran of the department - was a resource officer at Middleton High School, pictured, at the time of his firing
The Tampa Police Benevolent Association said in a statement it is backing White.
They said: 'We stand with the City of Tampa and the Tampa Police Department in their efforts to stamp out racism in every form and condemn any and all derogatory statements in or out of uniform.
'The facts in the Delvin White matter do not reflect an act or any intent that warrants the punishment he received for his alleged transgression.
'Officer White is a beloved and trusted member o
'f the East Tampa community that he was raised in and that he protected every day. Despite his misstep, throughout the investigation, private citizens and other individuals associated with his school contacted the Chief of Police lending their support and reflecting their admiration for his character and contributions.
'The PBA will file a formal grievance on Officer White’s behalf with the hope and expectation of getting this valued Officer back to work.'
The Tampa Police Benevolent Association said in a statement it is backing White
