White Detroit Cop Demoted After Blasting Black Lives Matter Movement As 'Terrorists'

DETROIT (WWJ) - A white Detroit police detective has been demoted after calling those involved in the Black Lives Matter movement "racists" and "terrorists."

Detroit police Chief James Craig said Monday that now-former detective Nate Weekley, in the Detroit Police Department's sex crimes unit, has been demoted to officer for the duration of an internal investigation.

"We are formally aware that he did post; he has since removed the post, but we recognize that it's still trending," Craig told WWJ's Vickie Thomas and other reporters.

The post read:

"For the first time in my nearly 17 years as a law enforcement officer I contemplated calling in to work in response to the outrageous act perpetrated against my brother. It seems like the only response that will demonstrate our importance to society as a whole. The only racists here are the piece of (expletive) black Lives Matter terrorists and their supporters ..."

Craig said there are concerns within the department that comments like Weekley's can undermine efforts at maintaining good relations with the public and the work Detroit police are doing in the community.

"If you post something that is contrary to your role as a police officer, our oath of office, we will certainly take prompt and decisive action," the chief said. "Preliminarily, it's certainly inappropriate, it's certainly unprofessional."

Weekley is the brother of Joseph Weekley, a Detroit officer who accidentally shot and killed a black girl during a 2010 raid.

Craig also said Monday that a second inappropriate post was discovered on the Facebook page of a Detroit Police Supervisor. That officer was also re-assigned and placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of an investigation.

"Maintaining the trust our officers have earned with our citizens and the community they serve is vital in our ability to reduce crime and make our neighborhoods safe," Craig said. "I will not allow comments such as these to go unaddressed. We have made tremendous progress in our city and will not allow a few misguided statements and bad judgement, even if they come from members of my own department, to undermine that progress."

Also announced at Monday's news conference, Craig said — in a separate case — he's seeking felony charges against four men who allegedly used Facebook as a platform to threaten to kill police officers. Craig said he's spoken with Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette who is now evaluating that case.