PEORIA, Ill. (AP) – A former central Illinois officer who was fired for inappropriate social media use says the posts were protected under the First Amendment.
The Journal Star reports that former Peoria police officer Jeremy Layman is asking a federal judge to declare the Facebook posts he made while off duty as protected.
Layman filed a lawsuit against the city that included the request in July. The lawsuit lists six statements that allegedly led to his February termination from the police department after 17 years of employment.
City Attorney Don Leist declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Layman was criticized for several controversial social media posts, including one with a picture of a shirt that said “Baby Daddy Removal Team.”
Some community members voiced their displeasure with the posts, calling them inappropriate.
