Thomas Burke, police chief for Farrell, Penn., has resigned after criticism over a racial slur he used in a fundraising email, according to the Philly News. Burke had yet to even start work at the new police department, which will probably be delayed while the city decides on a replacement police chief. Burke had been sworn in as the city's police chief on Nov. 17 and resigned on Wednesday after the criticism came over the racial slur he used.
Burke had sent an email as part of a fundraising project outside of his police job, which involved the parent-teacher organization of a nearby elementary school in Sharon.
Burke had sent the letter to a dozen friends and colleagues as part of the fundraising he was involved in.
"Good morning," the email said, according to the Raw Story. "Please click and review. Even $1.00 will be greatly appreciated. Them Sharon n-----s gotta learn how to read."
"I immediately said dismissal," said Farrell city councilwoman Stephanie Sheffield, referring to when Burke showed up at her home with a written apology, according to the Inquisitr.
"He came and knocked on my door this morning with an apology letter, and how he is very familiar with our community and our area with some of the issues that we have going on here," said Sheffield, adding that Burke explained "that he does use the N-word very often because that's just the way that it is here our area."
"He should not stand in that position if he's going to use the N-word," she said.