CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney joined the Fraternal Order of Police to speak out about a controversial tweet sent nearly two months ago by a Charlotte City Council member.
Councilwoman Lawana Mayfield tweeted “being black under #45 [sic] has created homegrown terrorist [sic] wearing blue uniforms."
Mayfield's tweet was posted on March 26th -- and it was accompanied with a video from NBC News about Stephon Clark, the unarmed black man who was shot and killed by Sacramento police officers.
This tweet is now coming to light, as the council finalizes its budget which includes potential pay raises for CMPD.
On Thursday, Mayfield told Spectrum News that she said she stands by her comments. "When you do your research to look at 2016, let's just say May, how many people of color have lost their lives and or had been assaulted, then we can have this conversation."
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9 says they're offended by the tweet. In a statement, FOP #9's president, Mark Michalec, said he wants to know the intention behind the tweet
He said in part, “My actions and words are critically analyzed every single minute of my day. You need to be held to just as high of a standard as I am. You were elected as a City of Charlotte leader.”
Also responding to her tweets are members of Safe Coalition NC. Robert Dawkins of Safe Coalition said he doesn't know the motivation for Mayfield's tweet, but he supports it.
Spectrum News has reached out to Mayfield but we haven't heard back.
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