A prominent Democrat in Westchester County faced backlash on Thursday for not terminating a school officer who reportedly celebrated the death of Charlie Kirk.
Christine Scarti, a Republican county candidate, along with other local officials, criticized incumbent Democrat Ken Jenkins for allowing officer Tanisha Blanche to continue her role, risking the safety of students at Summers Middle School.
Scarti, who is poised to challenge Jenkins, called for a formal investigation into Blanche and expressed concerns about her ongoing employment.
“This is a betrayal of trust and endangers our children,” Scarti stated during a press conference. “Ensuring student safety isn’t negotiable. It’s the government’s primary responsibility, and Jenkins has failed in this regard.”
She added, “It’s concerning that she remains employed, and Jenkins should be held accountable for that. I hope for a thorough investigation that leads to her removal.”
Blanche drew criticism after sharing a post titled “Hate and Prejudice: The True Legacy of Charlie Kirk” following the shooting of the conservative activist at Utah Valley University last week. In her post, she expressed her views on Kirk’s beliefs regarding race.
In another comment, Blanche remarked, “Wellp! That didn’t end well for him.”
Adam Bronstein, the principal of Summers, deemed her online comments as “completely unacceptable” for someone tasked with student safety.
“The content of the post glorifies violence,” Bronstein noted.
While Blanche was removed from her position as a school resource officer, she was not terminated from her job.
The Westchester County Public Safety Department responded to the situation, indicating that Blanche had been reassigned to administrative duties while an internal investigation was underway. Spokesman Jeffrey Weiss emphasized that the department does not condone the glorification of violence.
Nonetheless, Scarti and various officials raised questions about why Blanche was allowed to be in such a position, especially after two long-serving safety officers had either retired or been reassigned.
“We must hold individuals accountable, particularly in today’s climate. Those in positions of authority need to answer for their actions,” stated Robert Scolano, the town manager of Summers, during a press conference.
“If this officer was in this role, accountability is crucial. She should not have had that position,” he added.
