Sanford police officer relieved from duty after recorded singing with band

SANFORD, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A Sanford police officer has been relieved from duty, pending an investigation into his involvement in a YouTube video that was recently brought to the attention of the Sanford Police Department.   

Officer Andrew Ricks had recently attended a local concert held at a Sanford venue while on duty and in uniform, according to a police department spokesperson. Ronald Neal said Officer Ricks joined a band on stage to assist in the introduction of a song and shouted and sang a section of the song's lyrics, "Let the killing begin."  The incident was caught on camera and a copy was forwarded to Chief Cecil Smith earlier this week. 

In a statement sent to FOX 35, Chief Smith said, "an incident of this nature erodes the thin fibers of trust which already exist between the community and the police, and it will not be tolerated within the Sanford Police Department."

"Chief smith saw that the content of the video -- that is the lyrics of the video -- could be misinterpreted by many people of the public.  So because of that, and the work done already and the focus of what we're looking for, for the public trusting us, is the reason why he removed him from duty. Why he relieved him of duty," said Neal.

Officer Ricks had submitted a letter of resignation from the department on October 30, with with his last day scheduled on November 20.  Officer Andrew Ricks' police powers were removed on Wednesday. He has served with the Sanford Police Department and we are told was in good standing with the department, until now.