Detective Michael Lankford is no longer employed with the Sanford Police Department, officials have confirmed to The Rant.
The Sanford Herald reported on Wednesday that Lankford, a 13-year employee, had been on administrative leave pending an investigation since Tuesday after being accused of having membership in a Facebook group promoting the Confederacy. The Herald’s story does not appear to be posted to the newspaper’s website.
Citing personnel laws, department officials didn’t disclose whether Lankford was terminated or resigned, or why. His employment with the department ended on Wednesday, July 15.
Lankford had been accused on July 11 by a Twitter account using the name We Will Be Ruthless of being a member of a private Facebook group called Confederate Resistance. The Twitter account flagged Lankford’s membership in what it called “a super secret racist Facebook group” based on an apparent post by Lankford in which he identified himself to other members as working in law enforcement and indicated possible plans to “start another page under a different name so I can be more of myself and show my Confederate pride.”
— We Will Be Ruthless (@RuthlessWe) July 11, 2020
Because the group is private, the content is not viewable to non-members. The group’s published rules indicate “no racist or abusive comments” and “racist or Anti-American (i.e. KKK/LOS) groups are not welcome to recruit or spread their propaganda on our page.” Since Saturday, when the We Will Be Ruthless account tweeted Lankford’s involvement with the group, it has made multiple requests via Twitter for comment or action by Sanford city government, as well as Lee County government, which has no oversight of or connection to the city police department.
A request on Saturday for more information from the We Will Be Ruthless Twitter account was not answered.
I wonder how many gift cards for a free lunch he received prior to his departure?
For the record if you knew anything or followed the Facebook page back the blue, you would know the gift cards have NOT even been distributed!!! How about doing research before jumping to conclusions!!
Really, Linda??? What a nasty, cheap… shrewish little barb. The selfless and kind efforts of Sanford/Lee citizens to show support and respect to our local LE is a much-needed little spot of light in such a dark and difficult time. It’s so disheartening that you chose to sling mud on it.
If people would put there wisdom and energy into true facts they might not be so hypocritical and back slapping someone they know nothing about. Half this bull is some sorry fool that won’t hold a job down but rather spend time hunting bull crap on somebody else.
If investigations on lot of personnel from the upstairs at City Hall to the down stairs at City Hall were prevailed there would be plenty of positions opened, it would give Margaret Murchison something else to yack about since she is so knowledgeable about people. What about a perfect clean record, never has given anyone a problem at work, stays to himself and does what is expected of him. Did it ever occur to any of these pointing finger people that alot of this BS is taken out of content.
Maybe somebody else can’t stand up for the City of Sanford employees because they are afraid themselves at voting time and it makes authoritative decision such as his makes them shine. You will only shine for a short time. There is a deadline for everyone. Clean up around your own doorstep before you start cleaning up somebody elses. Stay strong Lankford and your family….only the Strong Survive!
Confederate Pride my ass. He admitted he knew what he was doing was wrong as a city police officer, so he got what he deserved.
Please reference the part where “he admitted he knew what he was doing was wrong”… Acknowledging the current insanity does not equate to anything beyond that. We’re unfortunately ALL aware that the ignorant rioting and senseless sense of entitlement of the painfully stupid, screeching little wheels is the flavor of the month… Jeez.. I’m curious, though— to all the “We Will Be Ruthless”/ “We’ll Have Your Jobs” morons— what are y’all gonna DO with those jobs, when none of you have the brains or the balls to do them yourselves??? 🤷🏼♀️
Karenkay is a typical Karen.
Your exactly right Dana, where was the outrage when another city employee marched on town hall and berated our police chief. What a joke
Reply to Missy Degon: by his own admission he knew his job as a SAnford LE officer was in jeopardy and let all his bigoted friends know. Read his Twitter post.
Sorry to see that YOU are true Karen, here, not me! And I bet you call yourself a Christian, shame!