The comment was later deleted, but screenshots were shared with news organizations and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, which investigated and then suspended longtime deputy Paul Urhahn.

A letter from Sheriff Cullen Talton, posted to his department’s Facebook page, said the action was taken due to conduct that discredited the department and was unbecoming of an officer, WGXA reported.

Urhahn will be fired effective Jan. 20 unless he appeals, the sheriff’s letter says.

Chief Deputy Billy Rape said Urhahn had been disciplined in the past for other violations, but his dismissal was solely based on “destroying public respect for himself and our department across the board.” social media outrage”.

Urhahn could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday. It appears that his Facebook page has been deleted and no phone number is listed in his name.

Greg and Travis McMichael grabbed guns and jumped into a van to chase Arbery after spotting him running in their neighborhood near Brunswick on February 23, 2020. Their neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, got joined the chase in his own truck and recorded his cell phone. video of Travis McMichael firing short-range rifle shots at 25-year-old Arbery.

The three were sentenced to life in prison on Friday, with a judge denying the McMichaels, who are father and son, any chance of parole.