Massachusetts police department apologizes for Facebook post that applauded Derek Chauvin

A police department has apologized after posting and then deleting a Facebook post that appeared to criticize George Floyd, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin last May galvanized national attention on racial inequities and police brutality.

An investigation is underway and could lead to disciplinary action for the Fall River police officer who published the post, which was a screenshot of a tweet that read, "Chauvin immediately stood and calmly placed his hands behind his back. Imagine where we'd be if George had done the same."

The post appeared shortly after the former officer was convicted Tuesday on three counts in Floyd's murder. He faces potentially decades behind bars.

The officer involved has not been identified and has been transferred to an assignment that has no contact with the public, according to a Wednesday statement by the department. An independent agency will be assigned to investigate, it said.