Woke Miami Firefighter Suspended for Mocking the Death of a Police Officer Slain in the Line-of-Duty

 

Cesar “Echy” Echaverry (left), Kevin Newcomb (right)

A Miami firefighter has been suspended after making a mockery of a police officer’s death during a robbery in a WhatsApp group chat.

Officer Cesar “Echy” Echaverry, age 29, was a veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department who had served for five years. On Monday night, he confronted a robber in Broward and was fatally shot in the head. He died on Wednesday.

According to NBC, the suspect was also killed.

On Thursday, Kevin Newcomb joked about Echaverry’s death in a Whatsapp group chat, mocking Echaverry’s death. 

“Who cares another dead cop probably against gun control,” the message read.

“They didn’t give a f*ck when kids were dying in that school shooting they stood outside.

“Cops exist for the government to exercise its monopoly on violence. They want the whole world to stop when one of theirs goes down.

“How many idiots I had to transport with honor guard their dead bodies from coronavirus because they all were too stupid to wear masks or get vaccinated. All cops are for is protecting the rich property owners and the status quo. Everything else is a farce. F*ck the police,” the text concluded.

Chief Joseph Zahralban of the Miami Fire Department released a statement in which he said the firefighter in question had been terminated.

“Effective today, August 19th, 2022, the City of Miami Department of Fire- Rescue has terminated the employment of one of our firefighters,” Zahralban said in a statement.

“We have confirmed that the firefighter in question authored a written statement using a social media platform that demonstrated a disregard for human life, demonstrated a violent and antagonistic stance towards civil servants and represented conduct unbecoming of a Miami Firefighter.

“These characteristics make it impossible for this individual to carry out his duties as a first responder in the City of Miami,” the statement concluded.

More from NBC:

Alexander Cardenas, president of the Miami Association of Firefighters, said that the organization can’t comment on specific allegations against a member because of an ongoing investigation.

“What we do want to make clear is that our firefighters and our Fire Department fully support our police,” he said in a prepared statement. “As city of Miami firefighters, we work alongside hardworking police officers every day to keep our city safe and greatly respect their work and sacrifice. We stand in solidarity and in mourning with our brothers and sisters in blue.”

Steadman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, said that if the alleged comments render the firefighter unable to perform his job.

“While certain statements said in the heat of the moment can be understood, and with proper apologies worked through, the statement at issue was certainly thought out and illustrates a deep and abiding hate for law enforcement,” Stahl said in a statement.

The director of Miami-Dade Police Department Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III paid a tribute to Officer Echaverry:

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the untimely passing of Officer Cesar “Echy” Echaverry. Surrounded by loved ones, Echy succumbed to his injuries after a brief battle for his life.

Officer Echaverry died in the line of duty while serving and protecting our community. Our law enforcement family will continue to stand beside and support the Echaverry family through this difficult time. We’ll never forget Officer Echaverry’s bravery and sacrifice. Godspeed, brother.