A Tarboro police detective sergeant is currently suspended without pay after suggesting via his social media link that former President Donald Trump should have ended up dead in a recent assassination attempt while campaigning in Pennsylvania.
Brandon Richardson, who has been on the town’s police force for nearly 24 years, was taken off the payroll Monday and until further notice as further disciplinary action is still being considered, Town Manager Troy Lewis said in email correspondence Tuesday.
Richardson, in his posting about the assassination attempt, said, “Damn. Only about an inch away from America great again …” which references Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again.”
On Tuesday, another posting by Richardson appeared online, with this one apologizing to everyone who was hurt or offended by what Richardson said was a joke about the assassination attempt.
“My attempt at dark humor was completely out of line and in poor taste,” Richardson said in the follow-up post. “I realize now that my words were not only inappropriate but also deeply offensive to many of you. For that, I am truly sorry.”
Richardson in the follow-up post also said that he wanted to make clear that he does not condone violence in any form and would never wish harm on anyone.
“I understand that my words have consequences, and I take full responsibility for my actions,” he said in the follow-up post.
He also asked readers to keep Trump and Trump’s family in their thoughts as Trump heals from this physical and mental wound.
Trump, a Republican and a New York businessman who has been campaigning to win election back to the presidency after losing his reelection bid in 2020, was speaking at a rally Saturday in the Keystone State. Shots rang out, and Trump was wounded in his right ear.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, who had opened fire with a rifle, was fatally shot by U.S. Secret Service snipers in response. A former fire chief also was killed trying to shield his family, and two others also were critically injured.
Mary Helen Pelt, who co-administers the Rocky Mount Concerned Citizens Facebook page, was tipped off about Richardson’s posting about the assassination attempt. Pelt posted an image of what Richardson had posted to the Concerned Citizens’ group page.
Tarboro police Chief Rick Mann, via the town police department’s social media page, said that the department takes the matter very seriously and that this does not reflect the department’s values and standards.
Mann also said that an internal investigation had been launched to find out the context and details surrounding the post about the failed assassination attempt.
Overall, Mann said, “Our department is committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. We understand that such incidents can affect public trust — and we are dedicated to handling this matter with the seriousness and accountability it deserves.”
Lewis, in e-mail correspondence Tuesday, said that the town government’s social media policy is specified in the employee handbook.
Lewis said that policy says, “The town may require the immediate removal of, and impose discipline for, material that is disruptive to the workplace or in any way impairs the mission of the town.”
Lewis also made clear that the policy is being examined to see whether changes are needed and that at the same time the policy is being reinforced to town employees to avoid similar activity as Richardson’s in the future.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Lewis said that he has received phone calls and emails about Richardson’s posting about the assassination attempt.
Of the messages he has been getting and from where, Lewis said, “It’s a mixture of residents and from out of town as well — and the responses are on both sides of the issue.”
Some of the responses express feelings that Richardson should be terminated immediately or that the town should not do anything because Richardson has freedom of speech, Lewis said.
Pelt, in a phone interview Tuesday, said that Richardson’s post about the assassination attempt was sent to her anonymously.
Asked her reaction to her seeing the contents of Richardson’s two postings, Pelt said, “Astounded and disheartened that a law enforcement officer would make such a statement — and then claim that it was dark humor.”
Pelt said that she believes the Tarboro Police Department should fire Richardson, which she noted would be unfortunate given Richardson has served on the town’s police force for nearly 24 years.
“Law enforcement officers are typically in the business of saving lives and deterring violence and crime,” Pelt said.
Pelt is a conservative political activist and a supporter of Trump.
She made clear that if a police officer had posted a comment wishing death to President Joe Biden, then she would have posted that on the Rocky Mount Concerned Citizens Facebook page to alert the public as well.
Pelt said she opposes anyone who condones violence “no matter who it is, whether it’s a person on the street or if it is a political figure.”
Biden, a Democrat who was a U.S. senator from Delaware from 1973-2009 and vice president from 2009-17, is seeking re-election in the Nov. 5 presidential election.
According to information obtained Tuesday from Lewis, Richardson joined the Tarboro Police Department as an officer in mid-August 2000 and became a detective by late April 2014.
By mid-April 2017, Richardson achieved the rank of detective corporal and shortly after the start of August 2017, he achieved the rank of detective sergeant, according to information obtained from Lewis.
Until being suspended Monday, Richardson was being paid $68,926 a year, according to information obtained from Lewis.
Local Tarboro, NC
Most Popular
Comments / 0