By Sarah Calams
NEW YORK — A New York City corrections officer has been suspended after posting a doctored photo on Facebook that mocked George Floyd’s death.
ABC7.com reported that the photo shows NYC CO Derrick Lascko’s face over former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin’s, and Elias Husamudeen, president of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, covers Floyd’s face. The photo has since been deleted.
However, Lascko described himself as an “adversary” of Husamudeen, who’s seeking reelection, in a video posted to his Facebook page. Lascko has been campaigning for Benny Boscio, Husamudeen’s rival.
“This is absolutely unacceptable and does not represent the values of our uniform staff and department as a whole,” NYC DOC Commissioner Cynthia Brann said. “An investigation is underway and the officer has been suspended without pay. Compassion, dedication to duty and the desire to ensure public safety are at the center of what it means to be a correction officer and this kind of behavior will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”
Lascko denied making the image, claiming it was created by another Facebook user who’s connected to Husamudeen.
“I’m not surprised that instead of just apologizing he’s chosen to pretend he didn’t do it,” Husamudeen said.