Two police officers fired for death threats against Pres. Obama

By Jeremy M. Lazarus
Contributing Writer

RICHMOND, Va. (Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Richmond Free Press)—Two white Richmond police officers have been fired for calling for the assassination of President Obama during his campaign visit to the city in May.

City Hall confirmed the dismissal of the two officers just before President Obama made another campaign stop in the Richmond area last week. That confirmation was followed by a separate an­nouncement that a month-long halt to Richmond Police Depart­ment promotions had been lifted.

“The two officers are no longer in service,” Tammy Hawley, the mayor’s press secretary, stated in an email to the Free Press.

She stated that the officers were let go after “the mayor agreed with recommendations brought forward by Police Chief (Bryan T.) Nor­wood and Chief Admini­strative Officer Byron Marshall.” The action was taken July 6.

The officers spoke openly during roll call at the Fourth Precinct of their wish for the president to be killed on May 5, the day the president and first lady were at the Siegel Center to launch his re-election bid. Sources have identified them as a sergeant with more than 20 years of experience and a patrol officer with six years on the job.

One of them expressed the wish that someone blow up the stage while the president was speaking, sources have said. At the same roll call, the other officer — while talking to a colleague assigned to the presidential detail — spoke loudly about his hopes that someone would shoot the president.

At least one of the officers also made insulting remarks about the first lady.

The Secret Service investigated after receiving complaints from shocked officers who were present, but the federal agency did not bring any charges. Threatening the president is a federal crime. The city department’s internal investigation led to the officers’ terminations.

Meanwhile, 24 police officers will be promoted next Monday, July 23, more than a month later than expected. The ceremony had been originally scheduled for June 15, but was called off the week before the event without explanation.

The promotions include of 13 sergeants, eight lieutenants and three captains.

This article was originally published in the July 30, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper