PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. — Several law enforcement officers are under investigation after social media posts about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting.
A Prince George’s County officer is being reviewed after a post from his account was widely shared on the social platform X by Libs of TikTok, an outlet with more than 4 million followers, WJLA reported. The post read: “When you’re spewing hate, hate will eventually rear its head and find you...”
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The post, which appeared to reference Kirk’s killing, has drawn sharp criticism online and prompted the Prince George’s County Police Department to launch an internal probe. Officials confirmed the investigation and said the post may violate department general orders related to employee conduct on social media.
Specifically, the department prohibits officers from using social media in ways that could discredit themselves or the agency, according to the report. As of now, there is no indication that the officer’s duty status has changed.
A Maui police officer has also been placed on administrative duties and is under internal investigation after allegedly celebrating the assassination of Kirk on social media, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
The officer is accused of posting, “Charlie Kirk’s demise takes us one step closer to healing this country” in the aftermath of Kirk’s fatal shooting.
“We take this matter extremely seriously,” Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said. “We hold our employees to the highest standards of the policing profession, and when actions fall short of those standards, they are addressed immediately.”
The incident has been classified as an ongoing personnel matter, and no further information will be released at this time, according to the report.
An agent with the U.S. Secret Service has been placed on leave and had his security clearance revoked after expressing negative opinions about Kirk, CBS news reports.
The agent is accused of posting on Facebook that Kirk “spewed hate and racism on his show ... at the end of the day, you answer to GOD, and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesn’t leave.”
In a memo to staff obtained by CBS News, Secret Service Director Sean Curran warned that politically motivated attacks are increasing in the United States and urged employees not to worsen the problem
“Let me be clear, politically motivated attacks in our nation are increasing — seemingly every day,” Curran said. “The men and women of the Secret Service must be focused on being the solution, not adding to the problem.”
How should agencies balance free speech rights with public trust when officers post about high-profile incidents?
Police1 readers respond
- When a law enforcement officer or other government official elects to reference themselves as a government employee on social media either through words or photographs, they have to tread carefully in their posts, likes or replies to the comments of others. For when they do choose to interact with others, they are not only representing themselves but by, extension the government agency they work for. That’s why so many agencies have policies in place to protect the integrity of the agency. If your comments can defame their respective agency, then they need to be smart enough to keep those thoughts to themselves!
- Agencies must balance free speech with public trust by recognizing that while officers have the right to personal opinions, their words carry added weight when tied to a badge. Departments should affirm constitutional rights but hold staff to higher standards of professionalism — especially around high-profile incidents — because public confidence in fair, impartial service is the foundation of effective policing. Clear policies, consistent enforcement and transparency help preserve both free expression and community trust.
- To be an effective enforcement officer, you need to keep your personal feelings neutral and away from any type of media outlet.
- This is why our country is so screwed up right now. Both officers should be immediately fired. Spewing their hate-filled speech is unconscionable. People look to law enforcement officers to be unbiased in thought, word and deed. Enough said.
- You have to be professional at all times and refrain from saying or doing anything that will show your personal views. You are always representing your department.
- Agencies should be able to restrict certain statements when they compromise the mission of that agency.
- While you should not limit their free speech, maybe their off-duty conduct reflects their on-duty bias or prejudices. If they don’t live their lives as promoting respected conversation instead of violence, then they shouldn’t be police officers.
- Both of these jerks are a disgrace to ALL law enforcement officers and their departments and communities.
- How insensitive can comments like this be, especially at a time such as this when the family is grieving the loss of a father and husband. I would never condone any social media post that would celebrate the death of any law enforcement officer for any reason. It’s evil, hateful and serves no purpose. Just because we may not agree with each other, doesn’t give anyone the right to violate someone’s First Amendment rights by taking their life, let alone celebrating it.
- When I was a rookie officer my sergeant told me, “If the department wants you to have an opinion, it will be issued to you.” Excellent words of wisdom I carried through my career.
- As a retired law enforcement officer (34+ years), making comments such as these should in the least result in removal from the position. They don’t deserve to wear the badge and consider themselves a part of the thin blue line.
- What in the world have we come to glamorizing the murder of someone because we don’t like something they say. As a 43-year veteran of LE, I’m totally disgusted.
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