Job losses mount for social media posts after assassination attempt

(The Center Square) – Explained as an attempt at dark humor following the attempted assassination of a former president, a social media post from a police officer in North Carolina has brought small town attention for all the wrong reasons.

Former President Donald Trump survived in Bulter, Pa., last Saturday. It’s anybody’s guess if Brandon Richardson’s career with the Tarboro Police Department does, too. The tide of exits is rising.

Across the nation, actions similar to Richardson have resulted in job loss, some more high profile than others. A field director for a Mississippi congressman was among the first pointed out on social media. Then came Kyle Gass, the Tenacious D bandmate of Jack Black. The latter said he was blindsided, stopped the duo's tour and said he was done with Gass indefinitely.

Newsweek lists a South Dakota educator, a Texas auto racing broadcast company employee and a Texas pharmacy worker. A Gannett publication said “school employees, a restaurant worker, a fire chief and a political aide” lost jobs. So, too, did a professor at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., in a growing list.

Trump, by the split-second turn of his head , escaped with a wound to his ear when a 20-year-old opened fire last Saturday evening at the Republican presidential nominee’s rally. Not long afterward, 500 miles south in Tarboro, Richardson used an expletive when posting, “D---. Only an inch away from making America great again…”

MyTarboroToday.com was the first media outlet to report it.

The post has since been removed and Richardson apologized on the site. Trump has continued his campaign this week at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis.

A month away from his 24th anniversary with the department, the detective sergeant was placed on unpaid leave – taxpayers contribute to his salary of $68,926 following a 4% cost of living increase this year – pending Chief Rick Mann’s investigation and final disciplinary decision. Free speech is in play, as is the social media policy of the 10,700-population town.

In an email response to The Center Square, Tarboro Town Manager Troy Lewis wrote, “Upon closure of the chief’s investigation into this matter, final disciplinary action will be recommended to myself for action. This should be soon, but no timeframe has been set.”

The town’s comprehensive social media rules say the policy is “not to be construed to prohibit” legally protected activities or constitutionally protected speech. Disciplinary action, including termination, is possible if employees publish “any personal information about” a citizen that creates a harassing or hostile work environment; harms the goodwill and reputation of the town around citizens or the community; “erodes the public’s confidence in the town organization; or tends to place in doubt the reliability, trustworthiness, or sound judgment of the person who is the originator or subject of the information.”

There are levels of discipline described.

“While we will not know the longstanding impact of this incident, we take this matter very seriously and understand that there is a possibility that such statements can have a negative impact on public trust,” Lewis wrote in his email. “The Tarboro Police Department always strives to operate with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. At this time there is no reason to believe that Det. Sgt. Richardson has conducted himself on-duty in service of the town in any other manner.”

Mann released a statement and posted it to the department’s social media. He assured the department would maintain “the highest standards of professionalism and integrity,” and said steps were taken immediately to address the situation. He said the post “does not reflect the values and standards of our department.”

Richardson’s apology, posted Tuesday, said his “attempt at dark humor was completely out of line and in poor taste,” according to published reports. “I realize now that my words were not only inappropriate but also deeply offensive to many of you. For that, I am truly sorry.”

Lewis said Richardson is the senior of two people in the Investigations Division. He remains listed as the contact for the public on the department’s page of the town website.

For Lewis, it’s new ground. He’s been with the town for 23 years, and manager since July 2016.

He wrote to The Center Square, “I am aware of disciplinary actions for violation of social media policy, but obviously nothing of this nature.”