Facebook blocked the Illinois Association of Chiefs' request to promote its Officer of the Year post that honored a cop who was stabbed multiple times in the head and neck during a domestic incident before fatally shooting the suspect.
The stab wounds damaged East Peoria Police Officer Jeffrey Bieber's nerves and hit an artery, 'causing the officer to bleed profusely' and fall to his back during the February 2 incident, police said.
He tried to use his Taser but it was unsuccessful, and the suspect - identified as Joshua Crites, 19 - was on top of him. Bieber shot Crites and ultimately killed him.
Officer Bieber was praised by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police for 'not only for his sacrifice during and after the incident, but for being an outstanding officer serving and protecting the citizens of East Peoria every day.'
But Facebook said the post was about a 'sensitive social issue' and denied the state police group's request to promote the post, which can be done for a fee.
In a statement to the Journal Star, Facebook said:
'This ad content has been correctly disapproved for violation of Facebook Advertising Policies and Guidelines. As per policy: Your ad may have been rejected because it mentions politicians or is about sensitive social issues that could influence public opinion, how people vote and may impact the outcome of an election or pending legislation.'
East Peoria Police Officer Jeffrey Bieber was awarded a prestigious state honor but Facebook refused to promote police group's post about it because it contained 'sensitive issue.'
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Ed Wojcicki called Facebook's decision to refuse to promote the group's Facebook post honoring Officer Bieber 'ridiculous'
This is the Facebook post that Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police wanted Facebook to promote
The social media giant's response riled up Illinois police groups, including the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP), which started
