Sikeston DPS officer resigns following social media posts

SIKESTON— The Sikeston Department of Public Safety officer who on Wednesday made anti-Islamic posts on a public Facebook account resigned from duty, effective early Friday.

“Late yesterday evening, the officer gave me a verbal resignation and then said he would turn in his equipment this morning,” said Sikeston DPS Chief James McMillen in a news release on Friday. “A few moments ago, the officer did as he said and returned department property.

McMillen said he made contact with the original complainant and advised them of what took place.

On Thursday, the Missouri Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR-MO, sent the Standard Democrat copies of the officer’s statements which included derogatory remarks against Muslims, including: “I get to choose whom I dislike and it just so happens to be all muslims (sic) and their beliefs.”

As required, McMillen said DPS will make the Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) aware the officer resigned under investigation.

“We have a professional department with the highest of standards,” McMillen said. “Even the officer in question realized this and knew we had to part ways. We will continue to demand excellence in our officers, and we urge citizens to make us aware of any issues they feel need to be addressed.”