LAPD Sergeant Disciplined Over Disparaging Nipsey Hussle Posts Sues Department

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A Los Angeles Sergeant sues the LAPD after being punished for disparaging remarks he made on social media about Nipsey Hussle.

You can't be in Los Angeles and think you can get away with any Nipsey Hussle slander, even with a badge. According to the LA Times, Sgt. Joel Sydanmaa has filed a lawsuit against the LAPD and the commander-in-chief after he was disciplined for remarks he made about the murder of Nipsey Hussle, sexual assault victims, and Muslims on Facebook posts.

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Sydanmaa said that he's "never done anything improper on the job" yet was disciplined for “expressing his opinions, as a private citizen, while off-duty, on his personal social media accounts, about matters of public concern.” He added that the punishment was solely because his opinions "run counter" to the LAPD's "preferred political stance." 

The LAPD Sgt.'s comments about Muslims in Japan prompted discipline after a complaint by the Council on American-Islamic Relations. That was in 2015. Fast forward three years, and he found himself in trouble, again, after writing a post that he said he published "as if I'm in uniform," where he tried to claim Brett Kavanaugh couldn't be proven guilty for sexual assault. He said he was accused of "shaming" the victims and was reprimanded again.

But last year, following the passing of Nipsey Hussle, Sydanmaa tried to paint Nipsey in a bad light due to alleged gang ties, writing, Nip “perpetuated the criminal gang lifestyle and the anti-police sentiment in this country" in his music. Adding the rapper "chose the lifestyle that ultimately killed him." On top of that, he argued with people on the Internet before writing, "Next time you need help, call a Crip. Not 911."

The LAPD suspended him for a day and now, he's claiming it took a toll on him, "psychologically, reputationally, and emotionally." He also said, "prospects for promotion and advancement."

 


About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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