(Image Source: USA Today)

BY RUISHA QIAN

It’s not cries of an unjustified beating or an unfair arrest -- nope. It’s a Facebook page has landed the New York Police Department in hot water.

NY1 has the story...

“The NYPD came under fire after it was revealed some officers allegedly posted negative comments about the West Indian Day Parade on Facebook. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says an internal affairs investigation found at least 20 Facebook comments about the parade may have come from cops.”

The West Indian Day, held every Labor Day in Brooklyn is a celebration of Caribbean culture that draws some two million people, thus presenting crowd control challenges for the police. On Facebook, angry cops allegedly called parade-goers “savages” and “animals.”

One of the comments, posted from a police officer’s profile, reportedly read:

“I say have the parade one more year and when they all gather drop a bomb and wipe them all out.”

That officer denied he made the comment, saying he sometimes leaves his phone around. Yolanda Clark, president of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association tells the Antigua Observer that she’s disgusted.

“The language and expressions used to characterize our community members is both racist and volatile, and cannot be characterized in any other manner.”

Now, the officers are being interviewed by the Internal Affairs Bureau. But the case has raised First Amendment questions -- are the officers protected by freedom of speech? The New York Daily News spoke with police commissioner Raymond Kelly, who says even if they are, they’ll face repercussions.

“ ... though First Amendment advocates said the cops could receive constitutional protection for their comments, Kelly promised to impose administrative sanctions if possible.”

Yet the police involved may still have some support. Global Grind writes though they didn’t convey their point in a proper war -- the officers might have been right in calling the parade a “riot.”

“…the NYPD has a legitimate gripe, this year’s Labor Day weekend was one of the most violent in recent history: over 70 shootings took place in the city over the three day holiday.”

The Facebook page has since been deleted.