San Jose officer draws social media backlash for posts against protests

[Jesus Malverde]

20. Placed on leave

A San Jose police officer is now on leave after controversial tweets about protests in the Bay Area. Officer Phillip White's tweets were aimed at people protesting deadly police brutality, and his messages have created a firestorm of controversy.

The posts on White's account can no longer be accessed by the public. But they were already captured by others including the website Buzzfeed, which displayed other posts the officer had made previously about the ongoing demonstrations. Since his tweets were revealed, there's been a lot of criticism and repercussions. White was not only a police officer, he was also an assistant basketball coach at Menlo College. The school fired him on Monday, but that's the least of his troubles.

White's tweets read: "Threaten me or my family and I will use my God given and law appointed right and duty to kill you. #CopsLivesMatter."

And another reads: "By the way if anyone feels they can't breathe or their lives matter, I'll be at the movies tonight, off duty, carrying my gun."

The reaction was quick and predictable.

http://abc7news.com/news/sjpd-officer-on-leave-for-controversial-protest-tweets/437992/