PA Bill Number: HB2311
Title: Establishing the School Mental Health Screening Grant and Development Program.
Description: Establishing the School Mental Health Screening Grant and Development Program. ...
Last Action: Laid on the table
Last Action Date: Sep 23, 2024
2nd Amendment post yanked from Nazareth police Facebook page :: 11/24/2016
A Nazareth police officer went rogue on the department's Facebook page Wednesday morning, according to borough officials, encouraging gun owners to "exercise your 2nd Amendment rights to bear arms" in the wake of a homicide and carjacking this week in Palmer Township.
Nazareth police Commissioner Randall Miller said he learned of the post after receiving a call from the mayor and had it removed immediately, acknowledging that it could have been interpreted as vigilantism.
On the police Facebook page, the department wished the public a "safe Thanksgiving vacation," gave details of the crimes that happened Monday and Tuesday night in Palmer, and then said:
"We ask and encourage those of you who are responsible and educated enough to exercise your 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. Providing you can and are legally able to possess a firearm and that you follow the Pennsylvania laws and local ordinances when doing so ... If when ever possible CALL 911 FIRST, if you believe you see someone or something suspicious. Do not engage and use Extreme Caution!"
The post noted that Palmer police believe the two incidents — a homicide Monday night and an assault and carjacking Tuesday night — appear to be connected. Authorities said the victims in both incidents worked together at the Verizon store in Forks Township.
Michael E. Davis, 25, of the 2800 block of Eldridge Avenue, was shot after returning home about 8:30 p.m. Monday, according to Palmer police. He died at the hospital.
Davis' co-worker was forced into the back of his car at gunpoint after returning home from work about 8:29 p.m. Tuesday, according to police. He escaped and police later recovered his car a few blocks away. Authorities did not identify the co-worker, who lives in the 3300 block of Sherwood Road.
The homicide and the assault occurred about 1 mile from one another.
When contacted Wednesday morning, Nazareth Mayor John Samos said Wednesday morning he was unaware of the Facebook post and planned to call Miller, the police commissioner.
Miller did not name the officer who wrote the post, and said that he was dealing with the matter internally.
"That is not the opinion of the Nazareth Police Department or the borough," Miller said of the post after it was taken down. "That was posted by an individual officer."
When asked if he had concerns that the post could encourage vigilantism, Miller said that is a "legitimate interpretation," but repeated that was not the opinion of the department.
Kim Stolfer, chairman of Firearms Owners Against Crime, which bills itself as a statewide grassroots political action committee in support of gun rights, said taking down the post was irresponsible.
"The officer is a responsible citizen and he is just alerting the public just like he would alert any community member of a gas leak and advise them to prepare themselves accordingly," Stolfer said. "He is responsibly alerting citizens that they may have to defend themselves against this person who is on the loose and potentially a danger."
Stolfer explained why he thinks the officer's alert was appropriate: "This is not something where people are going around, 'Oh my God, I'm going to get attacked.' The average citizen owns a firearm for self-defense because they love people and they don't want anyone hurting them."
In neighboring Palmer, Supervisor Ann-Marie Panella said she was alarmed by the post to the Nazareth police Facebook page.
"Police officers are trained, [citizens] are not," Panella said. "They may see someone they think might be threatening, but maybe it's just someone out wandering. We should let the police do their job and just stay out of the way."
When asked about the post, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said he has no control over statements made by municipal police departments.
He said the statement issued by Nazareth police should not be looked at as authorizing or encouraging vigilantes.
"Best practice is to call police unless one has no choice but to protect themselves," Morganelli said. "I think law-abiding gun owners and those who have a permit to carry a concealed weapon understand this and act accordingly."
