School cop fired over ‘Ghetto Handbook’

Officer claims phrase book was a joke, says he’s married to a black woman

Slide show

Martin Luther King Jr.
See the civil rights leader in speeches and marches from Alabama to Washington.

more photos

Stand and be counted

Topic: Race in America

In the year of Barack Obama, there is much discussion of the state of race relations in America. But many other race-related topics are barely being discussed. Read NBC Senior Vice President Mark Whitaker's essay on the subject and then tell us what's going on in your town or community.

Video: Race & ethnicity

More video

King: 'One of our nation's defining moments'
Aug. 27: Rev. Bernice King and Rev. Martin Luther King III pay tribute to their father at the Democratic National Convetion on the 45th anniversary of the March on Washington.

Martin Luther King Jr. honored at the DNC

Lewis: 'We must march to the ballot box'

Obama's candidacy, 45 years after 'the dream'

Outrage over fake Obama money

The Big Picture

Decide for yourself where the struggle stands

(broadband only)

updated 8:24 p.m. ET Oct. 27, 2007

HOUSTON - The city's school system has fired a police officer for creating and distributing a "Ghetto Handbook."

The eight-page booklet, handed out to other police officers at a May roll call, said the definitions it contained would allow readers to speak as if they "just came out of the hood." It was subtitled "Wucha dun did now?"

Gang investigator Roby Morris, 34, had worked for 11 years at the Houston Independent School District before being fired this past week, according to an investigation report released Friday. He had been on paid leave since August.

Story continues below ↓

"This incident represents an egregious violation of our standards of conduct and decency," said school district spokesman Terry Abbott.

Morris told investigators he made the booklet to get back at one of his bosses. He also pointed out he is married to a black woman and that they have three children together, according to the report.

Morris could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday.