text: Prosecutors say they're dismissing almost three dozen criminal cases connected to four  Fort Lauderdale police officers who lost their jobs following an investigation into a racist video and text messages. The Broward State Attorney's Office reported on Thursday that they had already dropped 12 felony cases, 19 criminal misdemeanor cases and one juvenile case involving one or more of the officers. Nearly 20 more dismissals expected. The arresting officers in the cases, which include burglary, cocaine possession and aggravated assault with a firearm, are no longer on the police force. Scroll down for video . Criminal cases connected to four former Fort Lauderdale police officers have been dismissed after an investigation into a racist video and messages sent by the four cops. Above, Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley (far right) speaks about three of the officers' firings at a press conference in March . All of the four officers committed misconduct involving racist texts 'exchanged among themselves and former police officers', Chf Adderley said. Above, in this text, Christopher Sousa refers to killing n******' In another text message, Holding writes: 'Id have that noose ready' - in reference to black men. Jason Holding, James Wells and Christopher Sousa, all of Fort Lauderdale. were fired in March for 'department misconduct'. Alex Alvarez resigned in January . Officials say 22-year-old Alex Alvarez resigned, while 30-year-old James Wells, 31-year-old Jason Holding and 25-year-old Christopher Sousa were fired after a five-month investigation, according to The South Florida Sun Sentinel. The investigation began after a woman - Alvarez's former fiancee - filed a complaint in October. The series of text messages were filled with the N-word and other slurs, and the video included a doctored image of President Barack Obama wearing gold teeth, images of a Ku Klux Klan hood and a police dog attacking a black man. In their cellphone messages, the officers sent each other 'racial, sexist and ethically inappropriate' images and other content, including offensive comments against both Hispanics and homosexuals. They also 'criticized their coworkers' grammar, appearance, work ethic and referred to an entire shift as lazy (expletives)'. And they even talked about killing and injuring black people, CBS reported. In one text, Sousa reportedly wrote: 'Holdings we are coming and drinking all your beer and killing n******.' In another, Holding said: 'Id have that noose ready (sic)', according to the Sun Sentinel. Officer Alex Alvarez, 22, who apparently created the video (pictured: a still), resigned from the city's force in late January - before the investigation into he and his colleagues' exchanges was complete . The video for the fictitious 'The Hoods' film, which apparently used the N-word repeatedly, featured pictures of a wanted poster for 'an escaped slave' and black men looking down the barrel of a gun (pictured) The video also included photos of black men being bitten by a dog (pictured), a police investigation determined . The disturbing footage, which apparently used the N-word repeatedly, also featured pictures of a wanted poster for 'an escaped slave' and a caricature of President Obama with gold-capped teeth. All of the four officers involved in the case committed misconduct involving racist texts 'exchanged among themselves and former police officers', Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley said . Chief Adderley, who is African-American, added that the officers did not engage in criminal behavior, 'but their conduct was inexcusable and there is zero tolerance for this kind of behavior' in the force. A spokesman for the state attorney's office says all of the dropped cases involve black defendants. Sherman Bynes is one of the defendants whose criminal case has been dismissed. He was arrested by Holding in March 2014 . 'This is a serious matter. We continue to review each case in which these former policemen were the principal officers involved in the arrest,' spokesman Ron Ishoy told the Sun Sentinel. 'We are dropping charges against the defendants where it is appropriate.' One of the first felony cases dropped was Holding's arrest of Sherman Bynes, 36, in March 2014. Gordan Weekes, a chief assistant in the city's public defender's office called the arrest 'a classic case of driving while black'. Bynes was pulled over by Holding after rolling through a stop sign in a new Kia owned by the rental car company he worked for. Holding called for a police dog to search the car and Bynes's person and found a baggie of marijuana in Bynes' pocket and 14 grams of marijuana, a digital scale and several small plastic bags in a backpack in the trunk. He also said that Bynes was not wearing his seat belt. Holding arrested Bynes, who was charged with possession with intent to sell cannabis and traffic violations. Bynes said Holding was 'extremely aggressive toward him in his demeanor,' but used no racially offensive language during the stop, according to Bynes's lawyer. 'Holding's bias was insurmountable as he was clearly engaging in racially predatory policing that was consistent with his offensive text conversations,' Weekes said. Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein said that between January 1, 2014, and the time the officers left the force, they were involved in 56 felony arrests of black and other minority suspects. Chief Adderley (pictured) revealed the four officers had told him they had been just joking around. 'Based on the investigation, they felt, in their words, that it was a joke,' he said at a news conference in March . The three fired officers are disputing their termination from the force and are trying to get their jobs back. They have arbitration hearings on April 15. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler said in March that he was 'very disappointed, disgusted and shocked' by the inquiry's findings, describing the officers as 'a few bad apples' in a 'diverse' police department. He added city and department leadership had agreed that the multiple sackings were appropriate. Meanwhile, City Manager Lee Feldman said: 'It's extremely unfortunate that these acts of racism and hatred took place'. He also expressed his thanks toward Alvarez's fiancée for coming forward. The police department in south-east Florida, which has around 500 agents, has now created a human diversity class that all officers must attend on an annual basis in the wake of the incident. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #31 represents the officers. FOP President Jack Lokeinsky said everyone is entitled to due process, and the officers have the right to a fair review of the facts. The police department (pictured) in south-east Florida, which has around 500 agents, has now created a human diversity class that all officers must attend on an annual basis in the wake of the incident .
target: Twelve felony cases, 19 criminal misdemeanor cases and one juvenile case involving one or more of the officers were dismissed .
  Officers exchanged 'inexcusable' racist text messages, police chief said .
  Messages referred to 'killing n******'; one said, 'I'd have that noose ready'
  Alvarez also created video featuring Obama sporting gold-capped teeth .
  Other clips included pictures of attacks on minorities and use of N-word .
  James Wells, Jason Holding and Christopher Sousa were fired in March .
  Colleague Alex Alvarez, 22, resigned in late January during investigation .