Tom McBroom Sr. has clarified his comments. (Tom McBroom Sr. Facebook)
Hours after the girlfriend of Philando Castile was awarded an $800,000 settlement stemming from the police shooting death of her boyfriend, a Minnesota sheriff’s deputy tweeted his disapproval. Tom McBroom’s comment has caused him to be blasted as racist and he has since been removed from patrol, according to Fox 9.
In a screenshot captured by Twitter user, @BCPolo612, McBroom claimed Reynolds, whose settlement will come from the city of St. Anthony, Minn., the city of Roseville and the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, would burn all her cash in a matter of months due to drug use.
(@BCPolo612/Twitter)
As a result, many others on social media swiftly reacted, with some deeming the Elysian, Minn., city council member racist.
And they wonder why Kaep takes a knee.
— Je suis Michelle (@tafkam08) November 30, 2017
@McBroomSe Tom McBroom is a cowardly racist and deleted his twitter like a punk. Get your shit together Minnesota
— Comic Glans (@comic_glans) December 1, 2017
Tom McBroom is an ignorant POS. and unfit for his sensitive job. @elysianCity #TomMcBroom #FireTomMcBroom #PhilandoCastile #DiamondReynolds
— time reclaimer (@fafa019) December 1, 2017
Tom McBroom petty ass racist POS https://t.co/Gw8jo3Ola3
— 3ChicsPolitico (@3ChicsPolitico) November 30, 2017
What a racist piece of trash Tom McBroom is. Public servant, huh?
— Indifferent (@Indiffe25095131) November 30, 2017
Yet when McBroom spoke about the now-inaccessible tweet to City Pages, he said it wasn’t race related.
Related: Death of Philando Castile
Minnesota Cop Acquitted of Killing Philando Castile to Get $48,500 In Separation Deal
Prosecutor Reminds Jury That Officer Didn’t See a Gun Before Shooting Philando Castile
“I have friends of mine in the Minneapolis Police Department,” he said in a Thursday, Nov. 30 interview in which he initially denied he worked in city council or law enforcement. “And you know, that’s an epidemic up there, crack cocaine and opioids.”
Instead, he said he was referring to the general temptation to spend a large award rather than saving it.
“I’ve seen them come to court,” he said. “They’ve lost their children, but they come to court dressed to the nines with Michael Kors purses. To be frank with you, they don’t have a pot to piss in,” McBroom said. “I see it time and time again and I just shake my head and say, ‘Why wasn’t there anyone to help that person?'”
Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn told Fox 9 in response that McBroom’s tweet doesn’t “reflect the beliefs or opinions of anybody here at the Sheriff’s Office in our administration or patrol.”
Dunn did not detail if any other disciplinary action would be taken against McBroom, but a Change.org petition has been launched calling for his termination. It has 361 of the 500 requested signatures so far.
