New Orleans Cop Suspended After Trayvon Rants

A white New Orleans police officer has been suspended without pay after posting comments on an online news story about Trayvon Martin, reports the Times-Picayune. "Act like a Thug Die like one!" wrote Jason Giroir. And later, in response to a critic who called the comments racist: "Come on down to our town with a 'Hoodie' and you can join Martin in HELL and talk about your racist stories!" The city police chief described himself as "furious."

Giroir's attorney said his client admits it was a "boneheaded comment" but said he didn't mean it as a racial one. Earlier this month, Giroir was cleared for his role in a fatal shootout with two young black men he pulled over, notes the newspaper. One of the men was killed, the other injured, and two of Giroir's fellow officers were seriously wounded. The NOPD says police did not fire first. (More Trayvon Martin stories.)