Friday, January 27, 2012 3:35:04 AM
Shot-Up Image of President Draws a Secret Service Inquiry
By MARC LACEY
Published: January 26, 2012
PHOENIX — The Secret Service said Thursday that it was looking into a photograph posted on the Internet that showed a group of young Arizona men posing in the desert with guns while holding up what appeared to be a bullet-riddled image of President Obama’s face.
The photograph showed seven casually dressed young men, four of whom clutched weapons and one of whom held up a T-shirt covered with small holes and gashes and bearing a likeness of Mr. Obama above the word “HOPE.” The weapons held aloft appeared to be a revolver, a bolt-action rifle and two assault rifles.
“We’re aware of it, and we’re conducting the appropriate follow-up steps,” said Ed Donovan, a Secret Service spokesman in Washington.
The photo, along with the remark “Another trip to the ranch,” was posted on Jan. 20 on the Facebook page of Sgt. Pat Shearer, a police officer in Peoria, Ariz., a Phoenix suburb. The image was removed from Sergeant Shearer’s page on Thursday afternoon shortly after inquiries about it to the Peoria Police Department. Sergeant Shearer, a decorated officer who was honored in 2007 for helping to save a driver trapped in a burning vehicle, did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
Jay A. Davies, a police spokesman, said in an e-mail that the department was conducting “an administrative investigation into any possible policy violations on the part of our employee.”
The photograph was also posted on the Facebook page of one of the young men holding a gun in the image. He was identified as a student at Peoria’s Centennial High School.
Danielle Airey, a spokeswoman for the Peoria Unified School District, said district officials were conducting an investigation and working to identify any students involved. “We will also wait to hear from local and federal authorities to cooperate with their investigations,” she said in an e-mail.
The Secret Service has an Internet Threat Desk that reviews online comments and images that raise potential threats to protected officials, especially the president. Mr. Obama made a brief visit to the Phoenix area on Wednesday.
“Individuals certainly have a right to free speech, but we certainly have a right to speak to individuals to see what their intent is,” Mr. Donovan said.
© 2012 The New York Times Company
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/us/secret-service-looks-into-image-of-obama-riddled-with-bullets.html
===
Secret Service investigates picture from Peoria Police Sergeant
By Lindsey Reiser
Posted: Jan 27, 2012 12:02 AM CST
Updated: Jan 27, 2012 12:06 AM CST
PEORIA, AZ (KPHO) - The Secret Service is now investigating a picture posted on a police officer's Facebook site and Peoria Police are investigating one of their own. This comes just one day after another memorable Arizona photograph went viral.
The picture in question was actually posted on Facebook a week ago, but it wasn't until one day after the infamous finger-pointing photo went viral that someone cried "foul" and the photograph was removed.
"We received information about a possible policy violation today involving one of our employees," Peoria Police spokesman Jay Davies said Thursday. The investigation stems around a picture posted on the Facebook account of Peoria Police Sergeant Patrick Shearer. It shows several young men in the desert carrying guns and holding up a T-shirt with President Obama's likeness on it that appears ridden with bullet holes.
"We were contacted by the Secret Service," Davies said. The Secret Service confirms they've launched an investigation surrounding the picture, which was posted last week but was taken down Thursday. Peoria police say Sergeant Shearer has been with the department at least 14 years and now is a patrol sergeant with the Northern Precinct.
"We have a social media policy that addresses employee conduct with respect of the use of social media," Davies said. While he added Shearer will remain on duty, Peoria Police are conducting their own investigation to determine if he violated their social media policy. The policy says, in part, "posting information regarding off-duty activity that may tend to bring an officer's reputation into question is strongly discouraged."
"We seek to maintain a positive image and ensure that we're always holding our employees to that standard," Davies said. We tried to contact Sergeant Shearer by calling him and visiting his home but we were not able to get ahold of him. His disciplinary history and list of commendations were not available for us Thursday night. If it is determined that an employee has violated the social media policy, discipline for that violation varies depending on the situation, Davies told us.
Copyright 2011 KPHO
http://www.kpho.com/story/16613567/peoria-police-sergeant-under-investigation-after [with comments]
===
(linked in) http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=71134054 and following
By MARC LACEY
Published: January 26, 2012
PHOENIX — The Secret Service said Thursday that it was looking into a photograph posted on the Internet that showed a group of young Arizona men posing in the desert with guns while holding up what appeared to be a bullet-riddled image of President Obama’s face.
The photograph showed seven casually dressed young men, four of whom clutched weapons and one of whom held up a T-shirt covered with small holes and gashes and bearing a likeness of Mr. Obama above the word “HOPE.” The weapons held aloft appeared to be a revolver, a bolt-action rifle and two assault rifles.
“We’re aware of it, and we’re conducting the appropriate follow-up steps,” said Ed Donovan, a Secret Service spokesman in Washington.
The photo, along with the remark “Another trip to the ranch,” was posted on Jan. 20 on the Facebook page of Sgt. Pat Shearer, a police officer in Peoria, Ariz., a Phoenix suburb. The image was removed from Sergeant Shearer’s page on Thursday afternoon shortly after inquiries about it to the Peoria Police Department. Sergeant Shearer, a decorated officer who was honored in 2007 for helping to save a driver trapped in a burning vehicle, did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
Jay A. Davies, a police spokesman, said in an e-mail that the department was conducting “an administrative investigation into any possible policy violations on the part of our employee.”
The photograph was also posted on the Facebook page of one of the young men holding a gun in the image. He was identified as a student at Peoria’s Centennial High School.
Danielle Airey, a spokeswoman for the Peoria Unified School District, said district officials were conducting an investigation and working to identify any students involved. “We will also wait to hear from local and federal authorities to cooperate with their investigations,” she said in an e-mail.
The Secret Service has an Internet Threat Desk that reviews online comments and images that raise potential threats to protected officials, especially the president. Mr. Obama made a brief visit to the Phoenix area on Wednesday.
“Individuals certainly have a right to free speech, but we certainly have a right to speak to individuals to see what their intent is,” Mr. Donovan said.
© 2012 The New York Times Company
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/us/secret-service-looks-into-image-of-obama-riddled-with-bullets.html
===
Secret Service investigates picture from Peoria Police Sergeant
By Lindsey Reiser
Posted: Jan 27, 2012 12:02 AM CST
Updated: Jan 27, 2012 12:06 AM CST
PEORIA, AZ (KPHO) - The Secret Service is now investigating a picture posted on a police officer's Facebook site and Peoria Police are investigating one of their own. This comes just one day after another memorable Arizona photograph went viral.
The picture in question was actually posted on Facebook a week ago, but it wasn't until one day after the infamous finger-pointing photo went viral that someone cried "foul" and the photograph was removed.
"We received information about a possible policy violation today involving one of our employees," Peoria Police spokesman Jay Davies said Thursday. The investigation stems around a picture posted on the Facebook account of Peoria Police Sergeant Patrick Shearer. It shows several young men in the desert carrying guns and holding up a T-shirt with President Obama's likeness on it that appears ridden with bullet holes.
"We were contacted by the Secret Service," Davies said. The Secret Service confirms they've launched an investigation surrounding the picture, which was posted last week but was taken down Thursday. Peoria police say Sergeant Shearer has been with the department at least 14 years and now is a patrol sergeant with the Northern Precinct.
"We have a social media policy that addresses employee conduct with respect of the use of social media," Davies said. While he added Shearer will remain on duty, Peoria Police are conducting their own investigation to determine if he violated their social media policy. The policy says, in part, "posting information regarding off-duty activity that may tend to bring an officer's reputation into question is strongly discouraged."
"We seek to maintain a positive image and ensure that we're always holding our employees to that standard," Davies said. We tried to contact Sergeant Shearer by calling him and visiting his home but we were not able to get ahold of him. His disciplinary history and list of commendations were not available for us Thursday night. If it is determined that an employee has violated the social media policy, discipline for that violation varies depending on the situation, Davies told us.
Copyright 2011 KPHO
http://www.kpho.com/story/16613567/peoria-police-sergeant-under-investigation-after [with comments]
===
(linked in) http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=71134054 and following
Greensburg, KS - 5/4/07
"Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty."
from John Philpot Curran, Speech
upon the Right of Election, 1790
F6
Join the InvestorsHub Community
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
