‘Trayvon Targets’ Get Cop Fired In Florida
Port Canaveral, Florida — A cop was fired for “Trayvon Targets” in Florida on Friday, according to authorities. They stated that Sergeant Ron King of the Port Canaveral Police Department was let go after an internal review investigation.
The investigation against King concluded that the cop offered the hoodie paper shooting targets to two fellow police officers. Those officers declined to use them.
The hoodie targets showed up online after 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, 28, in February 2012. At the time of the killing, Martin was wearing a hoodie. The shooting happened in Sanford, Florida.
The so-called Trayvon targets started showing up online after the teen’s case gained national attention. Zimmerman is currently waiting trial on a second-degree murder charge related to Martin’s death.
John Walsh, interim CEO of the Canaveral Port Authority, added in Friday’s statement that the Canaveral Port Authority plans to apologize to Trayvon’s family for the targets the cop possessed. Martin family attorney Ben Crump released a statement about the Trayvon targets that got the cop fired, condemning their use. Crump added:
“It is absolutely reprehensible that a high-ranking member of the Port Canaveral Police, sworn to protect and serve Floridians, would use the image of a dead child as target practice. Such a deliberate and depraved indifference to this grieving family is unacceptable.”
Walsh agreed. The interim CEO explained, “Whether his [King’s] act is one of hatred or stupidity, neither one is tolerable.” King was a two-year veteran of the force, which boasts about 35 sworn officers. He offered the Trayvon target at the range near Cocoa on April 4, according to port spokeswoman Rosalind Harvey.
King led firearms classes at the range. The Trayvon targets show a bullseye over the teen’s heart, a package of skittles in his pocket, and a drink can in his right hand. All of these were things Trayvon Martin had at the time of his death.
The cop fired for possessing Trayvon targets will have one week to appeal the termination. Do you think he should be reinstated, or was the Port Canaveral Police Department right to fire Sergeant Ron King?
