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North Miami Principal Removed After "Insensitive" Comment

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The Principal of North Miami Senior High School has been removed from the school after he posted a controversial comment online.

The comment was made in response to an incident caught on camera in McKinney, Texas where a white police officer was shown tackling a 14-year-old black girl in a bikini to the ground and chasing unarmed teenage boys with his gun drawn after the department received complaints of a rowdy pool party.

In the comment section after a story about the incident was posted on the The Miami Herald website, Alberto Iber posted, "He did nothing wrong. He was afraid for his life. I commend him for his actions."

Click here to watch Gary Nelson's report. 

The post showed Iber's Facebook picture, his name, the school and his title. Several school board members said they did not like the comment.

On Wednesday, Miami-Dade Public Schools announced Iber's removal and that they were looking for his replacement. The statement said that school employees are held to a higher standard and are required to conduct themselves, both personally and professionally, in a manner that represents the school district's core values.

"Judgment is the currency of honesty," said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho. "Insensitivity - intentional or perceived - is both unacceptable and inconsistent with our policies, but more importantly with our expectation of common sense behavior that elevates the dignity and humanity of all, beginning with children."

Iber, who said he merely posted his personal opinion after watching a video of the incident, said he now regrets posting the comment and has removed it from the comment section.

Parent Maria Kramer agreed with the Iber being removed.

"The superintendent and the school system did the right thing. They have always stood up for children, and this principle obviously had a misguided view," Kramer said.

Brandon Simon, an 11th grader at North Miami, questioned Iber's comment, "The cop did nothing wrong? I mean, this is a black school, the majority of us are black. He probably offended the majority of the people here."

North Miami Council Member Alex Deslume thinks Iber's comment was "insensitive."

"Folks from the community were calling and talking about it. Most important, I think the superintendent acted very swiftly," Deslume said.

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