Kentucky police officer 'told new recruit to shoot black people caught smoking marijuana'

The former chief of a Kentucky police department allegedly told a new recruit to shoot black teenagers who he caught smoking marijuana.

Todd Shaw, 50, was law enforcement veteran with nearly 30 years of experience before he was sacked over the messages in November, according to The Guardian.

Court documents showed Mr Shaw responded to a new recruit's queries on police conduct with the words "F*** the right thing. If black shoot them", the newspaper said.

The messages were allegedly exchanged with an unnamed recruit in the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department, where Shaw worked from 1995 to 2009.

In the same exchange, the recruit asked what to do with the teen's parents in such a scenario.

Mr Shaw is said to have replied: "If mom is hot then f*** her. If dad is hot then handcuff him and make him suck my d***.

"Unless daddy is black. Then shoot him."

Jefferson County attorney Mike O'Connell, whose office uncovered the messages, told The Guardian: "Any individual who shares such blatant racist views should not be given a badge, a gun and a position of authority.

”This type of bias from one officer gives a black eye to the countless policemen and women who do great work in our community each day.”

Mr Shaw's lawyer Michael Burns told the local Louisville Courier-Journal his client "is not racist in any sense of the word", adding: “Actions speak louder than words and Mr Shaw’s actions during his career speak for themselves.”