Worcester mayor depicted with Hitler-like moustache on police union Facebook page

WORCESTER — A social media post on the police union's Facebook page depicting Mayor Joseph M. Petty sporting a Hitler-style moustache left the mayor feeling disheartened and troubled that such a photo would be circulated during the Jewish holidays.

"I've been in politics a long time and it's probably one of the worst things I've seen," Petty said. "It goes beyond decency and it's disheartening that people think this is OK to put out."

The altered photograph was posted beneath the words "Disobey Petty Tyrants."

The posting quickly raised concern.

In a message on the police union's Facebook page, union leader Richard Cipro wrote, "Today we had to remove a member for a post that was distasteful, which is an understatement. If anyone found that item to be offensive, we apologize. Once we were notified the post was removed immediately."

Cipro, who is running for District 1 city councilor, said the website was "created for union members and the general public to remind everyone of the dedication and commitment Worcester Police Officials have to the City of Worcester."

More:Police officer Richard Cipro to face incumbent Sean Rose in November

The apology was "very soft and inauthentic," according to District 1 City Councilor Sean Rose, whom Cipro is challenging.

In a social media post of his own, Rose called on Cipro to publicly apologize to the mayor and said the post was "divisive, hurtful and harmful to our city."

On Tuesday, Cipro, on letterhead from the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 504, wrote that he echoes Petty's outrage and added that the union is cooperating with the city's investigation into the matter.

Cipro identified the person who made the post as an employee in the city's Department of Communications, which he said is "separate and distinct from the Police Department."

"We hope that she is dealt with accordingly by the city and will come forward and publicly apologize to the Mayor and the Worcester Community at large," he wrote. 

Petty and Rose said the police union Facebook page has a history of allowing inflammatory, hurtful posts and they hope it will stop.

"Unfortunately, this website is almost like a magnet because they've allowed this to continue," Petty said. "People think it's acceptable to put it up on their website and they have a long history of allowing racist rants."

While he was personally troubled by the post, Petty said he was more concerned about members of the city's Jewish community.

"It made me sick to my stomach because it's the holy days for the Jewish community," Petty said. "People find it offensive. My family will find it offensive ... I think this needs to stop and it needs to stop now."

Petty said he doesn't know the person who made the post, but if he or she is a city employee they could be disciplined under a new social media policy.

Petty said he believes the post was sparked by the city's new indoor mask mandate. Also, all city employees must get vaccinated by Nov. 1 or submit a weekly negative test result.

He said that while people may not agree with the methods being used, he's focused on stopping the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in the city.

"I think this was the result of Friday's press conference," he said. "We need to get the pandemic under control. We have deaths that are increasing, people still out of work, businesses still hurting because of this pandemic. We can stop this if we all work together, as a team."