SHAFAQNA-A Medford police officer apologized Wednesday after sharing a Facebook image that encouraged violence against Muslims.
On January 9, Officer Jason Montalbano shared a post on his personal page that contained an image of a mushroom cloud, according to Wicked Local Medford. The text on the image read, “Japan has been at peace with the USA since September 2, 1945. It’s time we made peace with Islam.”
“My intention posting it on my private Facebook page was to support and address a military action against the ISIS terrorist threat,” Montalbano said in a Wednesday press conference. “In retrospect, I understand the reference to Islam was inappropriately overbroad and offensive to muslims.”
Montalbano’s post is now under review to see if the message is considered “conduct unbecoming of a police officer,” Police Chief Leo Sacco Jr. told Wicked Local Medford. Montalbano faces potential disciplinary action if the investigation finds the post violated the department’s policy.