A Florida police officer has been fired after singing a song entitled "Let the Killing Begin" with a death metal band — while on duty and in uniform.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Sanford police Officer Andrew Ricks had previously told the city he intended to resign Friday, but police Chief Cecil B. Smith "relieved him of his duties" Wednesday.
Smith said police received video showing Ricks singing the death metal song, which references the crucifixion of Christ, with the band Vital Remains at a Sanford venue Nov. 13. "Let the Killing Begin" is the first track on the band's album "Dechristianize."
Ricks was on duty and in uniform at the time, Smith told the Sentinel.
A video posted to YouTube last week appears to show Ricks on stage with the band. According to the Sentinel, someone in the audience sent the video to the police department on Tuesday.
In a statement Thursday, Smith said the incident "erodes the thin fibers of trust" between police and the community.
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"It is imperative that we have no misrepresentations of the immediate actions taken by the police department in situations of this nature and that we will continue to provide professional service to all citizens of Sanford," Smith said in the statement provided to the Sentinel.
Ricks joined the department in 2010. He declined to comment to the newspaper.
