Rome, NY – A joint USA TODAY Network-Syracuse University investigation has revealed a pattern of minimal disciplinary action taken against police officers who misuse social media across the state. This finding comes from an analysis of nearly 150 pages of misconduct records and 50 pages of internal policies at various New York police departments.
One notable case involves Sgt. Ferdinando “Fred” Pacicca III, a Rome Police Department officer whose Facebook posts were read aloud during a Black Lives Matter protest in upstate New York in 2020. One post was identified as racist after an investigation by his department; it involved mocking the accent of a Middle Eastern gas station employee and referencing violent imagery. Despite these findings, Pacicca faced only minor consequences: he lost five vacation days and had to attend sensitivity training.
The case of Buffalo Police Det. Richard Hy, known online as "Angry Cop," further illustrates this trend. In 2016, Hy was suspended for 22 days without pay after posting satirical videos on social media that violated the department’s policies. Despite a history of controversial content and in-person misconduct—such as intentionally backing his patrol car into a motorcyclist—he has continued to hold positions within the force.
The investigation highlights discrepancies between how police departments handle social media misuse compared to other industries, such as education and entertainment, where employees often face more severe punishments for similar behavior. State Sen. Luis Sepúlveda supports higher accountability standards for public servants but acknowledges that current laws may not adequately address these issues.
New York’s 50-a repeal in the wake of George Floyd's death allowed access to previously secret officer misconduct records. However, this transparency has yet to translate into stricter disciplinary measures within police departments regarding social media conduct. Some state lawmakers are now questioning whether existing regulations provide sufficient grounds for firing officers involved in such incidents.
The investigation underscores ongoing concerns about accountability and fairness in how law enforcement handles cases of social media misuse by its members.