An often-disciplined officer in the Baltimore Police Department tweeted a graphic photo of a murder victim Friday morning, showing the face and body of a man who had apparently been struck on the head, the Baltimore Sun reported.

A one-time homicide detective, 27-year-veteran of the police force Sgt. Robert F. Cherry was transferred to midnight-shift street patrols last month. After responding to a Friday morning, Cherry tweeted out the photo of the victim with the post, "This is but one of many incidents of violence in Baltimore city that our police officers deal with … and this young Black man was NOT shot by police. Let's STOP the violence and Save Lives." He then posted the phonne number of the BPD's tip line.

In response to one a comment stating that the image was grotesque and disturbing, condemning him for posting it, Cherry replied, "Typical Woke Baltimore … 'Take down the photo, it's traumatic' . .. but no one is asking 'How can I help solve this brutal murder and bring justice to this deceased Black man?'"

The tweet has been removed, but it is unclear if Cherry, Twitter or the Baltimore Police took it down. At the time it was posted, the police did not have the man's name and had not contacted the victim's family.

"The Baltimore Police Department is aware of a disturbing tweet that was released and deleted by one its members," spokeswoman Lindsey Eldridge said. "The Department has referred this incident to our Public Integrity Bureau for an internal investigation."

A police union leader, including its president, Cherry returned to duty after deciding not to run for reelection in 2014. He has made a number of late-night social media screeds complaining about police and city leadership, as well as the city population.

After spending six years as a homicide department supervisor, he was involuntarily transferred in April to the Southwest division where he was put on street patrols.