Three Denver police officers were fired after joking about visiting migrant shelters in the city and using them as “target practice,” the police department said.

In March, three Denver police officers in a shared group chat posted messages joking about going to newcomer shelters in the city and using them for target practice, according to a statement from the police department.

The group chat consisted of Denver police officers who went through the training academy together and were still probationary officers, according to the Denver Police Department.

The probation period for the Denver Police Department includes the time it takes to complete training at the police academy and nine months after graduating from the program.

“You participated in inappropriate text messaging conversations with other DPD recruits joking that you would go to at least two migrant shelters and shoot them for target practice,” Denver’s Chief of Police Ron Thomas wrote in termination letters to each of the officers. “This behavior is extremely prejudicial to the department and poorly represents the Denver Police Department to the community.”

The police department learned about the texts on April 4 and — “due to the abhorrent nature of the messages” — terminated all three officers on July 22, according to a statement from the department.

Former Denver officers Rodrigo Basurto, Meagan Joy and Scot Persichette were the only police officers in the group chat who were fired.

“Additional Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity training and Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) training will be provided to the other officers on that group chat,” Denver police officials said in the statement. Officials did not specify how many officers were in the group chat.

Since the three did not complete their probationary period, they are not eligible to appeal the dismissal, according to the department.

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Originally Published: August 8, 2024 at 11:04 a.m.