A police officer assigned to a Westchester County elementary school has been fired after posting Instagram stories that appeared to mock and celebrate the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Tanisha Blanche, who had been serving as a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Somers Intermediate School, was terminated after screenshots of her social media activity began circulating among parents and staff. Kirk was fatally shot last week during an appearance at Utah Valley University.
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In one post, Blanche wrote, “Well, that white sniper was overqualified when he put that hole in your neck hunni bunni.”Another read, “Welp! That didn’t end well buddy,” alongside a video of Kirk. She also criticized public reaction to Kirk’s death, contrasting it with a recent school shooting: “Why y’all don’t have that same energy for the school shooting that took place yesterday, but y’all crying over the man that was ok with gun violence…. Make it make sense.”
Though Blanche later set her account to private, screenshots of the posts spread quickly online, sparking outrage and concern within the school community. Parents alerted administrators, and the district promptly notified Westchester County Police, who oversee Blanche’s employment.
In a letter to families, Somers Superintendent Adam Bronstein said Blanche’s comments “glorified violence and broke the trust essential to her position.” He emphasized that “student safety is our top priority” and confirmed that a replacement officer will be assigned to the school.
District officials stressed that Blanche’s removal was immediate to protect students and maintain public confidence in the SRO program. While Westchester County Police have declined public comment, school officials underscored that her posts were incompatible with her role in safeguarding children.
The firing highlights the growing scrutiny public employees face over online conduct, particularly when their statements intersect with issues of political violence and community safety.
