A cop in the US state of Florida has been told to hand in his gun and his badge after doing death metal while on duty.
Officer Andrew Ricks was fired after joining Rhode Island chuggers Vital Remains live onstage for a rendition of their heavy metal ditty Dechristianize while kitted up in his full police uniform.
Video footage of the performance shows Ricks joining the band onstage for the song’s introduction, screaming “Let the killing begin!” alongside vocalist Brian Werner and bassist Gator Collier.
Unimpressed with his shenanigans, Police Chief Cecil B. Smith. of the Sanford Police Department handed Ricks his marching orders on Wednesday, 18th November.
Smith expressed nor remorse for the firing in a statement issued to the local paper:
“An incident of this nature erodes the thin fibers of trust which already exist between the community and the police and it will not tolerated within the Sanford Police Department,” he proclaimed.
Adding to the statement, Smith reflected on the immediacy of Ricks’ termination saying, “It is imperative that we have no misrepresentations of the immediate actions taken by the police department in situations of this nature and that we will continue to provide professional service to all citizens of Sanford.”
Vital Remains have also commented on the events, saying “LOL”.
Cop Fired for singing Vital Remains song!!! LOL
Posted by Vital Remains Official on Friday, November 20, 2015
However, frontman Brian Werner later added: “This is exactly what’s wrong with the world today” (via Metal injection).
Ricks had been a police officer for six years prior to the incident, and this was the first time he’s ever been “in trouble”.
Relive Officer Ricks’ career-ending performance in the video, below.
Watch: Police Officer Joins Vital Remains Live Onstage
