Illinois Sheriff Issues Apology After Posting Vile Anti-Gay And Anti-Semantic Comments On Facebook

AOL News reports on a west-central Illinois county sheriff who Friday issued an apology for a bizarre, grotesque Facebook posting. Another Facebook user, a friend who is a dispatcher, posted a photograph of what appears to be a young boy with his mouth hanging open, and a statement reading “Look, I found a fag.” Schuyler County Sheriff Don Schieferdecker then replied to the link in a post that has since been deleted, writing "Yup and his mouth is open, his glasses are off, he's ready, little fag Jew boy." Schieferdecker said Friday "I am extremely sorry. I have spent over 30 years of my life here giving public service, and I have never intentionally done anything to hurt anyone for any reason. ... All I can do is say I am sorry. ... I am extremely sorry [and] I beg people's forgiveness." Schieferdecker, who admits making the comment, added "It was a -- what I thought to be a harmless joke between friends and employees that I wasn't aware of that was going out worldwide. I mean it was a response to a joke and it was sent out as a joke." Scott Thompson, mayor of Rushville, Ill., was unavailable for comment, however a statement posted online attributed to him reads n part “I've been asked by many to make a statement regarding the remarks the sheriff made on a Facebook page earlier this week. Don is my friend but I will not speak to his heart or thoughts. I do however want to speak to my responsibility as mayor. I do not condone language which conveys discrimination or prejudice due to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or national origin. Such language would reflect poorly upon the individual and the community.” Thompson did not say whether he intends to ask for Schieferdecker’s resignation. Sheriff Schieferdecker said he although he regrets his remarks, which he called an "embarrassing situation,” he has no plans of resigning.