Miami-Dade firefighter investigated for Facebook post about Trayvon Martin

Brian Beckmann critical of prosecutor in Martin case

NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – A Miami-Dade County firefighter is under investigation by his department for a controversial posting he reportedly made on his personal Facebook page about the Trayvon Martin case.

Captain Brian Beckmann wrote the comment last Wednesday, the day prosecutors decided to charge George Zimmerman with second-degree murder, according to Grio.com, which reportedly obtained a copy of the posting.

"I and my co workers could rewrite the book on whether our urban youths are victims of racist profiling or products of their failed, s***bag, ignorant, pathetic, welfare dependent excuses for parents," read the post.

POLL: Offensive or freedom of speech?

Beckmann was being critical of the special prosecutor, implying she decided to charge Zimmerman to get reelected.  

He declined to comment to Local 10, but reportedly responded to the Grio.com reporter, saying, "I am a private citizen and have the same right to freely express an opinion on any subject that anyone else does. I chose not to embellish or alter the facts as your employers chose to do so."

His controversial remark has spread like wildfire within the department. Several firefighters tell Local 10 off camera they aren't happy Beckmann included them in his rant and they question his judgment for making his personal feelings public.

For its part, the department released a statement, saying, "Captain Brian Beckmann has been with Miami-Dade County since 1997. The post on his personal Facebook page is being investigated by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue."

A spokeswoman said the department's top brass will take up the issue on Monday.