* Some background from International Business Times…
A Springfield police officer has been placed on unpaid leave after allegedly posting racist and anti-semitic posts on social media.
Springfield opened an investigation after online reports identified officer Aaron Paul Nichols, 46, as the person responsible for racist and anti-Semitic postings on multiple social media forums.
The website Anonymous Comrades Collective, which describes itself as “dedicated to exposing Nazis, racists, and fascists” shared a series of posts made by accounts reportedly belonging to the nearly 20-year veteran of the Springfield police force on Gab – a social media network that champions free speech and is known for its far-right userbase.
In his posts, made from accounts with the name “WeWillWin” and “MagicDirtFarmer,” Nichols not only praised Hitler but also disparaged Jews and people of color. In one post, Nichols said the convicted vigilante killers of Ahmaud Arbery “did nothing wrong” and were only charged “because of Jews.”
* Press release…
As members of the Illinois General Assembly, we come from several different caucuses (Asian-American, Black, Jewish, Latino, Progressive, and Queer) to demand that the Springfield Police Department fully address the incredibly disturbing allegations of hate activity by an officer in their employ. We further urge all of our law enforcement partners to identify and eliminate the presence of officers in your ranks who operate without respect for our constitution, the human dignity of our communities, or basic human decency.
We learned this week via an investigation by Anonymous that Officer Aaron P. Nichols appears to be the person behind several online accounts (including one on Ken Griffin funded Gab) associated with extreme right wing agendas including racism, homophobia, and antisemitism. A post published 4/1/2022 provides extensive details of the investigative methodology and links to Officer Nichols’ online accounts and disturbing posts. We have subsequently learned that the Springfield Police Department has suspended Officer Nichols and are thankful for their swift action. We await the results of a truly independent investigation.
A few examples of online traffic from accounts allegedly tracing back to Officer Nichols include:
“I despise the government and have for nearly 3 decades. The best place I can possibly be inside the beast.”
“Hitler did nothing wrong”
“Hitler is the most lied about figure in history, bar none.”
“If I found a genie and I had one wish? The Jews would be a distant memory in 72 hours.”
“I am a supporter of as many holocausts as it takes to cleanse this world of Talmudic influence.”
“N**’s ruin everything. Even if it’s Whites doing the stealing, they’re likely selling the meat to blaq run restaurants or trading it to n**’s for dope. Real talk.”
“I frequently deal with a basketball American who is related to a pro basketball American. Dude parks a $200,000 car in the drive of a $60,000 house. N**’s are so fucking dumb.”
“Being forced to live with n**’s is a human right violation. Where’s Merrick Garland when he could actually be useful?”
(With a pic of Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson) “Here’s our next Sheeboon Supreme Court Justice. I’m sure she’ll be completely impartial.”
“Homosexuality is rampant in the blaq community because the majority didn’t have dads around to protect them.”
“I’m a n** harm reduction specialist and we have minimum manning requirements. Someone has to clean these streets.”
“I dumped a homeless women’s (sic) cart out in the drive up of a @tacobell because she repeatedly refused to unload it herself. I then took the cart back to the @babiesrus she appropriated it from. I’m doing the Lord’s work out here”
“When I seize power ‘hate crimes’ will be encouraged.”
“I’m not willingly giving up my way of life. I’ll die in a pile of brass.” “When you decide you’re not afraid of death you’re finally free”
His social media handles have changed over time. While this investigation initially focused on @NogAirForce, he also allegedly wrote on an explicitly racist site known as Gab under the handle @_14words, which refers to the white supremacist slogan “we must secure the existence of our people and a future for White children,” quoting American neo-Nazi David Lane. The published results of their investigation provide significant evidence of the validity of the claims.
It would be disturbing enough to know someone with these views was living in your community. But to learn that such a person is exercising authority over the very people he declares his hatred for is terrifying. We need a thorough and independent investigation on Officer Nichols and anyone else espousing these beliefs. We need transparency on any misconduct and allegations. After such investigation anyone holding these beliefs must be immediately removed from their positions of authority before someone is hurt.
Senator Omar Aquino
Senator Chris Belt
Senator Melinda Bush
Senator Jacqui Collins
Senator Sara Feigenholtz
Senator Napoleon Harris
Senator Mattie Hunter
Senator Adriane Johnson Senator Emil Jones III
Senator Laura Fine
Senator Julie Morrison
Senator Cristina Paciones-Zayas Senator Robert Peters
Senator Elgie Sims
Senator Mike Simmons
Senator Doris Turner
Senator Ram Villivalam
Senator Celina Villanueva
Representative Carol Ammons
Representative Dagmara Avelar
Representative Kambium Buckner
Representative Jonathan Carroll
Representative Kelly Cassidy
Representative Lakesia Collins
Representative Margaret Croke
Representative Daniel Didech
Representative Robyn Gabel
Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Representative Edgar Gonzalez
Representative Will Guzzardi
Representative Greg Harris
Representative Theresa Mah
Representative Joyce Mason
Representative Anna Moeller
Representative Bob Morgan
Representative Delia Ramirez
Representative Anne Stava-Murray
Representative Denyse Wang Stoneback
Representative Ann Williams
Representative Sam Yingling
*** UPDATE *** I’m told that Nichols has resigned from the police department. Because he quit while under investigation, he’ll be decertified and placed on the “do not hire” list by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 11:37 am:
Holy (banned word) (banned punctuation). This guy on the streets in a uniform is frightening.
“I’m not willingly giving up my way of life. I’ll die in a pile of brass.” “When you decide you’re not afraid of death you’re finally free”
- City Guy - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 11:40 am:
A big thank you to Anonymous Comrades Collective for identifying this (banned words).
- Chicago Blue - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 11:47 am:
But people on the left have people just as bad because they want to tax Ken Griffin and make sure our rivers aren’t filled with toxic sludge…
- Galway Bay - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 11:49 am:
Dudes gotta go
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 11:49 am:
I read the entire Anonymous Comrades Collective thread. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around how much people can hate.
It’s even worse knowing that I live in same community as this individual.
He’s on unpaid leave now, I only hope that it remains unpaid - and he feels as much fiscal pain from this as possible. So horrible to think, my tax dollars will be funding his police pension for decades to come.
- Moderated - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 11:52 am:
Often unpaid leave is a punishment or suspension and they think he will be able to keep his job.
Paid leave means they are investigating the officer and the process of discipline or termination is underway.
I’m afraid we aren’t rid of this guy.
- Tom - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 11:53 am:
Hard to believe this still (or ever) exists. Unreal.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 11:59 am:
What has happened since 2015, nationally, is the worst elements of our society have felt empowered and emboldened to purposely be visible and overt with sickening thoughts and beliefs they feel need sunshine… and feel nothing, zee-row, should happen to them, be it as simple as being ostracized, or as large as real life work/business implications.
Folks like this person are… they are, mind you… offended… they may or do face repercussions.
This all makes me ill.
- MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:01 pm:
Q from a previous thread: “Teachers and social workers are better crime fighters than Police officers?”
A: Yes.
– MrJM
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:05 pm:
I expect we will be asked to believe that none of the officers that he worked with had any idea of any of these racist attitudes. Someone should take to investigating every arrest he has ever made, every ticket he has ever written, and any use of force he has ever engaged in.
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:10 pm:
” … (including one on Ken Griffin funded Gab) … .”
That’s going to leave a mark.
- Kippax Blue - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:10 pm:
This guy should have a room right next to Terry Nichols. Permanently. Bet he felt real powerful with that gun on his hip as he emptied that poor woman’s belongings into the street. I pray an independent investigation does everything possible to find if he has any like-minded friends hiding behind that blue wall.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:12 pm:
Quite frankly, if this is true it means the chief should resign too.
There is *no way* the police chief wasn’t aware of this behavior before now.
This will never go away until we treat those who looked the other way in the hopes it would just go away, the same as those exhibiting the behavior.
- illinifan - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:14 pm:
What is beyond sad is there are so many other people, including people in power, who spew this stuff. We need to take a hard look at this. People are entitled to free speech but it does not mean we have to hire them to be police officers, teachers, or other government positions.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:21 pm:
===Because he quit while under investigation, he’ll be decertified and placed on the “do not hire” list by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. ===
I think it is important to highlight that this is a relatively new policy, right? Or am I mistaken in that being one of our new changes.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:23 pm:
- “I’m not willingly giving up my way of life. I’ll die in a pile of brass.” -
- I’m told that Nichols has resigned from the police department. -
Another internet tough guy heard from.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:26 pm:
Can he lose his pension? I’d vote for that…
- vern - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:28 pm:
I’m very impressed by the police union response on this. Easy to imagine some other Illinois police unions choosing a different path.
“The PBPA-Unit 5 is first and foremost a labor union. The mission of any labor union is to organize and uplift workers in order to build solidarity amongst their fellows, and with those in our communities. As police officers, we also are sworn to protect and defend our community by upholding the laws of the state, and to enforce those laws in an unbiased and professional manner.
While we are legally and ethically bound to not comment on ongoing investigations, the union disavows and condemns bigotry and bias against any group of people. Further, the PBPA wants to be an active partner in healing the rifts that exist between law enforcement and the people we serve, and we pledge to work with members of our community to realize those goals.”
source: https://newschannel20.com/news/local/police-union-responds-after-officer-put-on-administrative-leave-due-to-racist-comments
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:41 pm:
==This guy should have a room right next to Terry Nichols.
No. He should be fired and any potential violations of civil rights investigated, but he didn’t bomb a federal building.
===Quite frankly, if this is true it means the chief should resign too.
It took a fair amount of investigation and tech literacy to track this down. Why would the Chief necessarily know?
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:44 pm:
Both the Chief and the union deserve credit for acting quickly and taking this very seriously. Good job and thank you.
There should be some review of cases he’s involved in as well, but he’s off the street as an officer and that’s a good start.
- ChrisB - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:45 pm:
On one hand, this is disgusting.
On the other, I’m glad he put all of his thoughts down in writing and posted them to social media. Makes it easier to hold him to the consequences of his actions.
- Peanut Gallery - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:46 pm:
I knew it was going to be bad before I read the details, but I still don’t think I was prepared for that.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:47 pm:
== I’m told that Nichols has resigned from the police department. ==
What a surprise.
- Vote Quimby - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:48 pm:
That was some high-powered rhetoric he spouted… glad he know longer has a badge. I wonder how his marriage is doing…
- Vote Quimby - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:48 pm:
*no longer has a badge (d’oh)
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:56 pm:
One other thing–I was one of the first Illinois centric people to retweet the initial report–be careful about these things. Some groups are not cautious about their research. I read through theirs thoroughly and corroborated a couple things. It was solid, but again, don’t spread around without confirming–it can ruin someone’s life. In this case, the right guy had his life ruined.
- Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:56 pm:
Someone knew about his actions and his history, that someone likely wore a badge too. Find them.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 12:57 pm:
These types of guys seem to forget that their online comments can come back to haunt them. My hope is that there will be fewer of them as time goes on. But this person is just 46, so it’s not just an “older generation” issue.
What stinks is that he was a police officer, supposedly serving the community as a whole. But clearly he felt he could pick and choose which people were worth serving and which were not.
- Stark - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 1:01 pm:
There are way more of these guys than anyone thinks there presently are, and they get to roam free for the most part each and every day in our communities. Food for thought.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 1:04 pm:
The guy is pathetic, another keyboard warrior.
Donnie, any thoughts on this?
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 1:08 pm:
Gab was always a cesspool, but about a year or so ago it took a sharp turn towards the toxic. It has the same “anything goes” rules, but current management is actively anti-semitic/Christian Nationalist, which of course is welcoming to kindred spirits. This might be one reason why the Trumpist right has tried to find other alternatives to Twitter.
- Nitemayor - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 1:11 pm:
And what will prevent him from getting hired in another state? Wouldn’t be the first time. I also remember after Obama’s election they were screaming from the rooftops we have finally entered a race neutral society. Then along came Trump to empower these vile racists that led directly to Jan 6th.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 1:23 pm:
>Why would the Chief necessarily know?
This didn’t happen in a vacuum.
Situations like this almost always only get to this point because nothing is being done internally to address it after repeated attempts, either deliberately or through sheer incompetence.
I’m not saying the chief agreed or not with this behavior, just that it isn’t acceptable for it to have gone on this long without the chief noticing anything. It’s not necessarily a failure caused by malice(I hope) on the part of the chief, but being the chief does come with these responsibilities(and the pay for these responsibilities).
- My 2 Cents - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 1:32 pm:
== I wonder how his marriage is doing… ==
I feel certain his wife and children were well aware of his beliefs. In the longer piece by Anonymous he mentions indoctrinating his “boys”.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 1:32 pm:
===This didn’t happen in a vacuum.
We don’t know Nichols record or if he talked about his views unreservedly with others. I’m all for investigating if he acted on these beliefs in his job and that has to be done for potential appeals for the arrests he has made.
This guy thought he had hidden his online persona and it took some digging to tie Nichols to the statements. They weren’t in Springfield Police message board–and I’ve seen that happen with the Saint Louis police on the old StlCopTalk. I’m all for Springfield PD looking at its culture and determining how much of an issue is present, but right now, we don’t know that and the department and the union (amazing) took the right side immediately. Give some credit to them for that even if there needs to be a look at the culture to see if there is more than an isolated individual.
- The Real Downstate - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 2:27 pm:
That Mayor Langfelder has yet to issue a statement about all this is ridiculous.
- Lurker - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 2:48 pm:
I know I’m asking way too much but can we make sure he does not and cannot own a gun or get a FOID?
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 3:04 pm:
==That Mayor Langfelder has yet to issue a statement about all this is ridiculous.==
Hopefully a year from today we’ll see this headline: “Lightfoot and Langfelder Both Lose.”
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 3:06 pm:
==Can he lose his pension? I’d vote for that…==
I second that too.
- get real - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 3:09 pm:
20 years is a lot of silent coworkers, Springfield.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 3:11 pm:
==20 years is a lot of silent coworkers, Springfield.==
Which by the way, the Renetta Frazier ordeal and then Mayor Hasara’s admission that “there is racism in the Springfield Police Department” also happened about this time 20 years ago. That was pretty much the end of her administration.
- Southside Progressive - Tuesday, Apr 5, 22 @ 7:05 pm:
@Candy Dogood
== I think it is important to highlight that this is a relatively new policy, right? Or am I mistaken in that being one of our new changes. ==
Yes, you are correct this is a new policy, the decertification law was included in the new Police Reform law, the SAFE-T Act, that so many are attacking as anti-law enforcement.