WOODBRIDGE – A township dispatcher resigned after it was determined he posted “unauthorized comments” on social media, according to John Hagerty, communications director for the township.
Marc Repace, a civilian employee assigned to the Woodbridge Police Department Dispatch Center since Dec. 17, 2018, had allegedly made discriminatory remarks in response to a photo of a young black boy with a sign asking “At what age do I go from handsome to a threat?”
The photo was taken of the boy at one of the many protests across the country against police brutality following the death of George Floyd, an African American man, in Minneapolis on May 25.
Floyd was killed by Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes after pinning him to the ground during an arrest. Chauvin was charged with killing Floyd on May 29.
Repace allegedly responded to the photo “17 give or take a year or two. LMFAO totally kidding.”
Hagerty said Repace was suspended from his position on May 31 after the township became aware of the post. He said Repace submitted his resignation and was terminated from his employment on June 1.
The Woodbridge Police Department released a statement on the matter on its social media page on May 31, which has since garnered 296 comments.
“The Woodbridge Police Department is saddened and dismayed by a recent social media post attributed to one of its civilian employees,” the statement said. “Immediate action has been taken to discipline the employee. The Woodbridge Police Department does not condone this type of behavior from any of its personnel and is dedicated to the fair and impartial administration of justice for every member of our community.”