Seattle Officer Fired for Hate Speech: Neighbour Confrontation Sparks Termination

Officer Burton Hill was fired for calling his Chinese American neighbour racist and sexist slurs. The altercation, which occurred off-duty in 2022, led to a final decision by then-police Chief Adrian Diaz. The incident highlights the Seattle Police Department's commitment to professionalism and bias-free policing.

In a decisive move to uphold community standards, Seattle police officer Burton Hill was terminated after directing racist and sexist language at his Chinese American neighbour while off duty. The incident stems from a 2022 confrontation over dog bones disposed of at their shared condominium complex.

The Seattle Office of Police Accountability had suggested disciplinary options ranging from a suspension to termination, with the latter being implemented in May by then-police Chief Adrian Diaz. Hill's firing underscores the department's zero-tolerance stance on discriminatory behavior.

The case was amplified when audio of the altercation, provided by the nonprofit Chinese Information and Service Center, revealed Hill's derogatory language toward women and East Asians. The OPA report, published earlier this month, supported allegations of officer misconduct and bias-based policing, affirming the department's commitment to professionalism.

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