Video: Prominent Pastor, Community Leader, Speaks Out On Firing Of Officer After Social Media Post

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A pastor and community leader says he is pleased with the quick action by Tupelo officials, who fired a police officer after he put a controversial post on social media, however, he encourages key officials to take a stand on the issue.

On Wednesday, the Tupelo Police Department said, through a press release, that an officer was terminated, after he wrote a social media post that blasted new techniques, such as body cams.

Multiple sources confirmed the former officer is John Bingham.   His post said it was sometimes alright to use profanity and threaten a person’s well being to get their attention, and he also said sometimes you have to kill them.

Bingham made the post Monday evening, and was fired by department.  On Wednesday, the city, through a press release,   said his remarks do not reflect the philosophy of the city of Tupelo.

Bishop Clarence Parks is a member of the Coalition of Concerned Pastors and Leaders.  He says the city made the right decision.

“I think it speaks volumes of them getting on top of it , but I still think they need to come out, council, all of them and all seven, and the mayor, and come out and make a public statement about how they feel about the community and also how they will gain the community’s trust,” said Pastor Parks.
Pastor Parks said the shooting of Ronnie Shumpert by a Tupelo Police Officer June 18th, brought a lot of issues to the surface.  He says things are moving forward, but people in the African American community are still skeptical of the city and police.