The former deputy is accused of stealing tape and using to write out a racial slur on a poster. (Richard Theis / Getty Images)
An ex-South Carolina deputy won’t be able to serve as an officer anywhere in the country after admitting to stealing and defacing a victim’s property with a racial slur.
Kaleb Broome, a former Richland County deputy, pleaded guilty to a charge of malicious injury to private property this week, more than two years after being booted over the offense, local station WLTX reported.
While responding to a domestic dispute on Feb. 23, 2016, Broome spotted a poster of Africa in the victim’s garage and used a roll of double-sided tape to block letters in the word “Nigeria” to make it look like a racial slur. Broome also wound up taking the tape, which cost about 10 cents.
Sheriff Leon Lott swiftly fired the deputy over the incident, saying that Broome’s actions “tarnished the badge that we wear.”
Broome reached a plea deal with prosecutors this week, in which he agreed to give up his ability to receive law enforcement certification in South Carolina. The agreement won’t only be filed into the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, but into a national database as well, barring him from working as an officer in any U.S. law enforcement agency, according to WLTX.
“Kaleb Broome’s actions proved that he did not deserve to wear a badge — ever,” Lott said. “Hopefully, this guilty plea will ease the concerns of any Richland County or South Carolina citizen that he will never patrol our streets again.”
