A racist text message sent by a police officer has prompted officials in a small Alabama town to disband their police department and fire the police chief and assistant chief, the Associated Press reports. Vincent Mayor James Latimore confirmed that Police Chief James Srygley and Assistant Chief John Goss had been dismissed. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office condemned the two officers’ actions and said it stands with the city “in providing emergency law enforcement related service to the citizens (of Vincent) at this time.” In the message, which recently surfaced on social media, someone identified as “752″ texts: “What do y’all call a pregnant slave?” An unidentified recipient responds twice: “?” and “??” “752″ answers: “BOGO Buy one, get one free.”
“This has torn this community apart. It doesn’t matter what color we are as long as we do right by people," said City Councilman Corey Abrams. Latimore said “appropriate action has been taken” against the officer alleged to have sent the text, though he would not name anyone involved. The city's website lists three people in its department: Srygley, Goss and officer Lee Carden. During a council meeting, Latimore announced he had suspended the chief and assistant chief, and the council voted to end the agency. Latimer said Carden turned in his resignation via text message just hours after the city council voted to dissolve the department. Located in central Alabama, southeast of Birmingham, Vincent has a population of just under 2,000 people.