( CNN ) Three Florida police officers were fired and a fourth resigned after exchanging a series of racially offensive text messages and a video that portrayed President Barack Obama in a derogatory way , Fort Lauderdale police said . Jason Holding , James Wells and Christopher Sousa were terminated after a five-month internal affairs investigation found sustained department misconduct , conduct unbecoming of a police officer and engaging in `` conduct prejudicial to the good of the order of the police department . '' A fourth officer , Alex Alvarez , resigned but authorities said Friday that he would have been fired had he not done so . In the text message exchanges , the former officers used racially derogatory terms to refer to people they encountered while on duty , included racially insensitive material from the film , `` Django Unchained , '' and talked about getting drunk and `` killing n***** , '' according to investigative documents . The men allegedly criticized co-workers , including African-Americans , making crude comments about their grammar , appearance and work ethic . One message referred to an entire shift as `` lazy f**** , '' the documents state . Alvarez created a faux movie trailer with the title `` The Hoods , '' with offensive language and images of Obama , the Ku Klux Klan and African-Americans . `` There was no criminal behavior detected during this investigation , however , the four officers ' conduct was inexcusable and there is zero tolerance for this kind of behavior in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department , '' Chief Franklin Adderley told reporters . `` Its attempt was to damage the image of our agency and I just hope that the people and the public realize that we 're not going to tolerate it and anyone that 's engaged in this behavior will be addressed immediately , '' he said . In a statement , the Fort Lauderdale Fraternal Order of Police said the officers deserve their due process , CNN affiliate WSVN reported . `` The Fraternal Order of Police is a multicultural organization which does not tolerate racism , '' the group 's president , Jack Lokeinsky , said in the statement . `` Our officers take great pride in our commitment to diversity . Our dedicated officers have positive relationships with residents in every community we serve . '' The officers worked in a predominantly African-American neighborhood . `` I am very disappointed , disgusted and shocked by this incident , '' Mayor Jack Seiler said . `` The inappropriate racist behavior exhibited by those involved is unacceptable and reprehensible , it violates the trust we place in our law enforcement officers , it damages the bond we have established in our community and undermines the standards in which each and every city employee is held accountable , '' Seiler said at a news conference . Police officials were alerted of the existence of offensive material by Alvarez 's ex-fiancee , who discovered it when the couple agreed to check each others ' phones , according to the documents . The woman told police she thought their behavior was wrong , but feared he would hurt her if she told anyone . After the 10-month relationship ended , she went to the authorities . Adderley said that four officers had not exhibited a pattern of race-related complaints . Holding was recently disciplined with a two-day suspension for mishandling property of a suspect . The police department is implementing a mandatory `` diversity class '' for officers and a screening process for new hires , said Adderley .
Fort Lauderdale officers exchanged racially offensive text messages . Three officers were fired , a fourth fired . Police chief : ` ` There was no criminal activity detected ''