Cop writes, 'D**n. Only about an inch away from making America great again ...' after failed Trump assassination. Bad idea.



After the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump over the weekend, a North Carolina police officer hopped on Facebook and wrote, "Damn. Only about an inch away from making America great again…” WNCN-TV reported.

As you might imagine, the post proved a costly miscalculation.

'My attempt at dark humor was completely out of line and in poor taste.'

Detective Sgt. Brandon Richardson — a 24-year veteran of the Tarboro Police Department — is now on on administrative leave pending an internal investigation, WNCN reported. Tarboro is a town of just over 11,000 residents and sits a little over an hour east of Raleigh.

The police department in a Facebook post of its own Monday said it "is aware of an inappropriate social media post made by one of our officers. We take this matter very seriously, as it does not reflect the values and standards of our department."

The department's message added that after they caught wind of the post, officials took "immediate steps to address the situation: An internal investigation has been launched to determine the context and details surrounding the post. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation. We are reviewing our social media policies to ensure they align with best practices and clearly communicate our expectations."

WNCN reported that Richardson issued an apology on his Facebook page that appears to have been taken down. The station reported that his post read in part, “My attempt at dark humor was completely out of line and in poor taste. 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's post added that he takes full responsibility, WNCN noted, adding that he made an appeal to “keep Mr. Trump and his family in our thoughts as he heals from this physical and mental wound.”

WNCN reported that Richardson joined the Tarboro Police Department as a patrol officer in 2000 before being promoted to detective with the department’s investigation division in May 2014.

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'I hope there are some white folks killed': Memphis firefighter under investigation for racist Facebook post — but department won't disclose firefighter's race



A firefighter with the Memphis Fire Department in Tennessee is under investigation for a message targeting "white folks" that he posted to Facebook, but the department on Thursday would not disclose the firefighter's race to TheBlaze.

What are the details?

WHBQ-TV reported that firefighter Steven W. Chillis' Facebook post tags the 2022 movie "The Woman King," which IMDB says is "inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries."

The message with Chillis' post reads, "I hope there are some white folks killed," the station added. TheBlaze's Facebook search for Chillis' account was unsuccessful Thursday.

The fire department "is conducting an internal investigation on the social media post made by Mr. Chillis," public information officer, Lt. Hunter Smith, told TheBlaze in an emailed statement Thursday.

Smith added that the department employed Chillis in March 2020 and that Chillis "remains on duty with pay pending the outcome of the investigation."

A LinkedIn profile of Steven Chillis of the City of Memphis Fire Department includes a profile photo that would seem to indicate Chillis is black, but Smith told TheBlaze he couldn't confirm that Chillis has a LinkedIn profile.

The educational experience on the LinkedIn profile — which was active Thursday afternoon — lines up with the educational experience on a resume for Steven W. Chillis of Memphis posted to SlideShare in September 2016.

Given that race is central to the controversy — particularly the race of the firefighter in question — TheBlaze asked Smith if he could confirm that Chillis is black, but Smith declined to do so. In fact, Smith told TheBlaze that the fire department "does not release any demographic information about employees, including age, race, date of birth, etc."

Smith did provide TheBlaze with a copy of the department's Social Media Policy, which affects all city employees. It prohibits "statements, comments, or images that disparage any race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin." The policy also prohibits posting "remarks that would contribute to a hostile work environment (racial, sexual, religious, etc.)."

Anything else?

Sydney Gray, a reporter covering the story for WMC-TV, said in a video report that she spoke to Chillis on the phone Monday morning but said he wouldn't comment on the matter except to say there was "a hearing" and he "would not elaborate on what happened or when it took place."

Neither WMC's story nor WHBQ's story bring up Chillis' race. In fact, WMC's headline reads, "Memphis firefighter under investigation for hostile Facebook post."

A spokesperson for the Memphis firefighters union told WHBQ the group is waiting for the investigation to be completed.

Public school staff member calls 'white privileged Trump supporters ... scum and a plague upon the world' in profanity-laced post



A New York state public school staff member recently posted a profanity-laced Facebook message calling supporters of former President Donald Trump "scum," "a plague upon the world," and "white privileged" — and now the school district is looking into the matter.

What are the details?

The post is from Brandon Mendoza of the Rome City School District, according to multiple outlets. Rome is located in upstate New York, about 45 minutes east of Syracuse. News outlets have characterized Mendoza as a teacher, but Superintendent Peter Blake would only address the "comments of a staff member."

While WIBX-AM reported that Mendoza's message has been deleted, another Facebook user posted a screenshot of it:

The post reads, "Just want to remind the white privileged Trump supporters, who are eerily silent as of late, that you're scum and yourself a plague upon the world. I hope the universe blesses you with infertility and the inability to piss without it hurting. Y'all extinct. Go the f*** away. Be shameful. We will never forget."

The post concludes, "Oh, and if you're family or you consider yourself a close friend and voted for him, go f*** yourself. I will gladly take a bereavement day at the spa when you expire."

The school district on Friday didn't immediately return phone calls from TheBlaze asking for more information about Mendoza. But a comment under the latter Facebook post indicated he works at Bellamy Elementary School in the district. A family handbook for the school's 2019-20 academic year showed a B. Mendoza listed under support staff as "ENL," which stands for English as a New Language in New York State.

What did the superintendent have to say?

Superintendent Blake issued a statement on the matter, WKTV-TV reported: "Thank you to everyone who reached out to express their concern and disappointment caused by the comments of a staff member. Our district believes in equity & tolerance and the individual's comments do not reflect those values. While we cannot speak publicly about personnel-related issues, I can assure you that we are addressing the situation with our legal counsel and the State Education Department. On behalf of all Rome City School District employees, I am sorry that our school community was represented in such a negative light."

The Rome Sentinel reported that Blake later was asked if his statement was about a district teacher's social media message against Trump supporters. Blake replied that it "was in reference to a staff member wishing harm on people" and had "nothing to do with politics," the paper said.

Blake added "hate is hate, and wishing harm on people is not OK...regardless of political opinions or viewpoints of the world. It is not what public schools anywhere represent and certainly not the ideals of our school community in Rome," the Sentinel reported.

Pregnant woman arrested in front of kids for 'incitement' over Facebook post promoting COVID-19 lockdown protest in Australia



A pregnant woman was arrested in front of her children for "incitement" over her Facebook post about a planned protest of the COVID-19 lockdown in the Australian state of Victoria, 7News reported.

What are the details?

Video shows police entering her home in Miners Rest, which is northwest of Melbourne, on Wednesday afternoon, telling her she's under arrest, and placing handcuffs on her, the station said.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Groups of anti-lockdown protesters have marked this coming Saturday for a series of planned protests across the country, 7News said. But the station added that others also have been arrested for incitement, including a 76-year-old man.

Regional Victoria is under stay-at-home orders, ABC Ballarat reported, and gatherings are banned.

The woman says on the video that she wasn't aware she was breaking the law by advocating for the protest on social media.

"I wasn't breaking any laws by doing that," she's heard saying to an officer.

"You are, actually, you are breaking the law," the officer replies. "That's why I'm arresting you."

Image source: YouTube screenshot

In the clip, the woman offers to take down her post.

"I'm happy to delete the post," she said. "This is ridiculous. ... My two kids are watching. I have an ultrasound in an hour. I'm happy to delete the post."

But the police officers nevertheless executed a warrant and seized computers and mobile phones, including the one that recorded the incident, 7News said.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

The handcuffed woman is in tears by the end of the clip.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

What did police have to say later?

A Victoria Police spokeswoman told the station that a woman had been arrested and charged.

"Victoria Police is aware of a prohibited gathering which is planned for Ballarat on Saturday," the spokeswoman said. "Any gathering of this nature is in blatant breach of the Chief Health Officer's directions and puts Victorian lives at risk. Police executed a search warrant at a Miners Rest address this afternoon and a mobile device was seized. As a result, a 28-year old female has been charged with the offense of incitement and has been bailed to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on 25 January 2021."

The spokeswoman added the following warning, according to 7News: "Those still thinking of attending the protest in Ballarat on Saturday can expect a swift and firm response from police."

Pregnant Woman Arrested by Victoria Police for Incitement over a Lockdown Protest Facebook Postyoutu.be