Teh One Who Knocks
09-11-2012, 04:17 PM
THERESA CAMPBELL | Staff Writer - The Daily Commercial
Tavares road patrol officer Sarah Coursey remains on paid administrative leave after making an alleged Facebook posting that the U.S. Secret Service is investigating as a threat against President Obama.
Joyce Ross, spokeswoman for Tavares, said Sunday that the social website posting is being taken "very seriously" and that the police department is performing an internal investigation while the U.S. Secret Service was notified and agents have been in Tavares to conduct a separate investigation.
Ross said Social Service agents interviewed Coursey on Friday, following the posting she allegedly made about 10:10 p.m. Thursday, about 10 minutes into Obama's live speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte:
"Where's Lee Harvey Oswald or John Wilkes Booth when you need them!?!? :)", the posting stated, referring to the assassins of presidents John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln.
Ross said a concerned citizen e-mailed a copy of the Facebook posting to Tavares Police Chief Stoney Lubins, who took action and directed that an internal investigation be taken immediately, to determine if departmental polices have been violated.
"There are procedures that we have to follow according to our personnel standards; we just have work through those," Ross said, adding the alleged posting was "totally inappropriate" and that police officers are held to high standards to protect and serve.
She said Coursey has never had disciplinary action in the past with the department.
Coursey first joined Tavares police in 2008, and resigned in 2009 to take another position. She was rehired in May 2011.
Tavares road patrol officer Sarah Coursey remains on paid administrative leave after making an alleged Facebook posting that the U.S. Secret Service is investigating as a threat against President Obama.
Joyce Ross, spokeswoman for Tavares, said Sunday that the social website posting is being taken "very seriously" and that the police department is performing an internal investigation while the U.S. Secret Service was notified and agents have been in Tavares to conduct a separate investigation.
Ross said Social Service agents interviewed Coursey on Friday, following the posting she allegedly made about 10:10 p.m. Thursday, about 10 minutes into Obama's live speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte:
"Where's Lee Harvey Oswald or John Wilkes Booth when you need them!?!? :)", the posting stated, referring to the assassins of presidents John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln.
Ross said a concerned citizen e-mailed a copy of the Facebook posting to Tavares Police Chief Stoney Lubins, who took action and directed that an internal investigation be taken immediately, to determine if departmental polices have been violated.
"There are procedures that we have to follow according to our personnel standards; we just have work through those," Ross said, adding the alleged posting was "totally inappropriate" and that police officers are held to high standards to protect and serve.
She said Coursey has never had disciplinary action in the past with the department.
Coursey first joined Tavares police in 2008, and resigned in 2009 to take another position. She was rehired in May 2011.