A cop at the University of Missouri was instantly fired after he admitted he was photographed in blackface as he portrayed Flavor Flav at an undisclosed time before he worked for the school.
Officer Marcus Collins’ termination came Tuesday, March 19 after the un-dated image in question was anonymously sent to the Columbia Daily Tribune, according to the newspaper.
“Once we were able to verify it was Collins in the photo and Collins acknowledged that, shortly after a discussion with top university officials, he was terminated,” school spokesman Christian Basi said.
“This type of behavior is not tolerated at Mizzou, and we understand how this impacts our entire community profoundly,” Mizzou Chancellor Alexander Cartwright said in a statement. “Racism, hate, and insensitive behavior have no place on our campus. We are committed to our values of respect, responsibility, discovery, and excellence, and to making our campus a place where everyone feels welcome and protected.”
Collins had been employed with the MU Police Department since January 2018. In the blackface image, he’s seen wearing a huge clock necklace, much like Flav’s signature look. He also sported a sideways snapback hat and sunglasses as he snapped the mirror selfie with a grin.
Stephen Graves, director of undergraduate studies in the University of Missouri Black Studies department, wasn’t the biggest fan of Mizzou swiftly firing the cop. (Photo: University of Missouri)
A university spokesperson told Fox 2 Now he doesn’t know where or when the photo was taken.
While the quick firing of Collins was applauded by groups like local activist group Race Matters, Stephen Graves, director of undergraduate studies in the MU Black Studies Department, thinks there couldn’t possibly have been enough time to discuss Collin’s actions.
“Any time you have gotten a photo by 9 a.m. and by 11:30 that person is fired, it had to have been a hell of a conversation,” Graves told the Daily Tribune. “I think you do society a disservice when you don’t allow for conversation and the police officer involved to explain himself. That person needs to step in front of a camera and explain the behavior, the who, what, where, why and when.”
