THE police officer who faced an inquiry for posting crude messages on the internet is no longer working in Exeter.

Police confirmed yesterday that PC Nestor Costa, who was suspended for 12 months and fined three days' pay after posting abusive comments appearing to condone violence on social networking site Facebook, is no longer based at Heavitree Road police station and will be working elsewhere in the force area.

But a police spokeswoman made it clear the move was unrelated to the inquiry.

She said: "Officers are moved around the county all the time for operational reasons."

Police have confirmed that a closed hearing took place at Middlemoor last week before an assistant chief constable, supported by a superintendent and an independent member of the public.

A spokesman confirmed PC Costa was found guilty in relation to his actions being considered as amounting to conduct likely to bring the force into disrepute.

PC Costa posted the comments on Facebook in October 2007, in response to video clips of people being restrained and arrested by police officers.

Above a clip showing a youth pulling a knife on an officer in a Devon custody suite, before being restrained, the officer wrote: "look at this stupid c***, hope he got a good f***** shoeing in the cells."

Then, perhaps as a warning to fellow officers, he adds: "And remember, let's not be so soft on these c***s out there."

Commenting on a video showing a large woman resisting arrest and eventually being pinned down by several officers, he, says: "Another crazy c*** wanting to have a go!!!"

After the Echo contacted the police, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary's professional standards department launched an internal inquiry and the webpage was removed from public view.

Debate regarding the incident raged on the Echo's website at www.thisisexeter.co.uk yesterday.

Maurice Foe, of Exeter, wrote: "Basically, all this officer has done is state that he has no sympathy for criminals who try to assault him and his colleagues, and he has done so in a way that was only intended to be seen by friends.

"PC Costa and his colleagues deserve far more respect in times where respect seems to be an antiquated idea."

An anonymous poster in Exeter wrote: "He is entitled to his own opinion in what he thought was a secure site."

Another anonymous Exeter poster wrote: "While I cannot condone the things PC Costa posted, we do all think and say things which are not meant for everyone's ears but one assumes they will not make front page news."

Dangerous Dave, of Exeter, wrote: "I was actually relieved of my position not so long back for posting a picture of a post it note at work with the word 'bored' on it on Facebook.

"It's the world gone mad. Whilst I understand a policeman posting violent comments is a bit more serious (whether he meant them or not — I don't imagine he did), how can personal opinions be anyone's business?"

An anonymous Exeter resident wrote: "Firstly, I do not pretend to condone what PC Costa has said and I can understand how people may find it offensive, and how it reflects upon his noble profession.

"That said, this officer naively posted this comment on what he believed to be a secure & private page of the social networking site Facebook.

"Let us not forget that this officer ... puts his life on the line every day he goes to work, to serve the community and the cause of justice, to make our community a better place for all of us, in the same way that all officers do.

"How have we repaid this brave, hard-working, dedicated officer? A year of suspension on full pay, which I must say seems a bit excessive. I can only imagine the torment he has gone through, knowing every day that the job he knows is potentially on the line."

A colleague of PC Costa's wrote: "PC Costa is an outstanding response officer in Exeter and has been for many years.

"His devotion and commitment to policing the area has been impeccable.

"PC Costa was fully aware his job and indeed his future were on the line. With a family to support this placed him under immense pressure and I would also like to say that he has carried himself amazingly well within that year."