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St. Louis Police Officer Receives Racist Letter

The logo of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department as displayed on a patrol car.
(St. Louis Public Radio)
The logo of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department as displayed on a patrol car.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson says he’s frustrated and disappointed after learning a black officer received a racist letter through interdepartmental mail.

Dotson has ordered internal and criminal investigations after learning about the letter last week.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the typed letter arrived about a month ago and was addressed to the officer. It included several profanities and a racial epithet. The sender said the officer was not wanted in the station and threatened not to respond if the officer called for help. The letter included a death threat.

Dotson said he has taken steps to ensure the officer’s safety but declined to elaborate.