Former West Palm Beach Deputy Police Chief says he had to resign over fundraiser picture on Facebook
Rick Morris was let go after Mayor Keith James texted he was "tone deaf" for posting a picture of U.S. Rep Lois Frankel's opponent
Rick Morris was let go after Mayor Keith James texted he was "tone deaf" for posting a picture of U.S. Rep Lois Frankel's opponent
Rick Morris was let go after Mayor Keith James texted he was "tone deaf" for posting a picture of U.S. Rep Lois Frankel's opponent
Former Deputy Police Chief Rick Morris quietly resigned in December — not because he wanted to leave the force but because he and his attorney say he had to — over a Facebook post that showed him posing with a Congressional candidate running against current Congresswoman Lois Frankel.
“I appreciate your help here," Morris told WPBF 25 News Investigative Reporter Terri Parker.
"The citizens need to know what really happened to me because I haven’t been in a position to where I could tell them," he said.
Morris is a decorated police officer with a 43-year career.
"I was chief of the year last year for the whole state," said Morris.
Morris believes that all fell apart in one swift moment in December at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach.
It was a Palm Beach Police fundraising event.
Among photos with other movers and shakers, Morris posted a picture on Facebook of himself with someone he’d just met -- Congressional candidate Deborah Adeimy.
"This young lady asked me for a photograph. I said 'fine, I don’t see any issue with that.' And it was put on social media," Morris said.
He captioned it: “An intelligent young lady running for Congress.”
The next morning he and Police Chief Frank Adderly received a text from Mayor Keith James, asking “Is this Lois’ opponent?”
By Lois, James means Democratic Congresswoman Lois Frankel – former mayor of West Palm Beach, mentor to, and supporter of James.
Adeimy is one of Frankel’s Republican opponents in the upcoming primary election.
Both Adderly and Morris said they didn’t know Adeimy was running against Frankel.
Morris explained he had already removed the photo, though, and hastened to add “I have always supported Lois to the fullest.’
James writes: “Unbelievably tone deaf.”
Morris responds “I apologize."
James responds “Not sure that is enough.”
Two weeks later and two days before Christmas, Morris says James called and told him his services as Deputy Police Chief were no longer needed.
“So was posting that Facebook picture what ended your career?” Parker asked.
“It destroyed my career. It had a huge impact on my family and myself," said Morris.
Stunned, Morris hired attorney Stuart Kaplan who believes Morris violated no police department rule but made a big political misstep.
"Seemingly that he was in some way endorsing this individual for her run to become a congresswoman and to unseat Lois Frankel," said Kaplan.
Parker reached out to Congresswoman Frankel to ask if she put any pressure on the mayor to fire Morris.
In a statement, she says:
"Personnel decisions for West Palm’s Police Department are entirely up to Mayor James and the Department. I have never played a role in those decisions and was not aware of the situation."
Kaplan said he believed the mayor was concerned about protecting Frankel.
"They were more concerned about protecting Lois Frankel and what her perception or what the optics could be from her side,” Kaplan said.
Parker asked Mayor James for an interview to explain Morris’ termination.
His communications director suggested she look at Morris’ personnel and Internal Affairs files – which she already had.
Parker found two complaints by the same woman – claiming Morris years ago obtained his college degree through improper means.
Both the state attorney’s office and internal affairs concluded that the allegation wasn’t supported and dismissed the complaints as unfounded.
And in the file -- no mention of why Morris ended up resigning.
"Harmless, innocent picture on Facebook"
“Terri, when I look at the picture that was posted and then the ensuing text messages that were followed there is no doubt, he was let go because of that single isolated event of posting a harmless, innocent picture on Facebook," said Kaplan.
Morris says he still doesn’t understand it.
"And you know what? I’ll give the mayor an opportunity to come back at any time and say what I did wrong because in my 43-year career, it’s not there," said Morris.
Kaplan negotiated for Morris to resign rather than be fired.
He is currently looking for a job.
James has no comment to explain why he let his experienced deputy police chief go, or to deny that it was because he posted of picture of Frankel's opponent.