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Mayor: NJ Cop Fired For Racial Comments On Twitter

ORANGE, N.J. (AP) -- A northern New Jersey police officer has been fired for posting what officials claim were profane and racially charged comments on Twitter.

But Hector Rosado's lawyer tells The Star-Ledger of Newark his client will appeal and eventually be reinstated to the Orange police force, where he served for eight years.

Administrative charges against Rosado were heard in June, and the hearing officer recommended that he receive a 10-15 day suspension.

But Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr. tells the newspaper he fired Rosado on Monday to "head off any potential future liabilities" the city might incur through Rosado's "possible actions."

Charles Sciarra, Rosado's lawyer, says the charges were filed after Rosado and other officers criticized Hawkins over police layoffs and other decisions regarding departmental operations.

What do you think? Should the office have been fired? Tell us in our comments section below.

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(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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