News

Actions

Richmond cops fired after alleged Obama, first lady threats

Posted at 4:59 PM, Jul 13, 2012
and last updated 2012-07-13 18:41:56-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - On the eve of President Barack Obama's visit to Central Virginia, city leaders say two Richmond police officers accused of making threats against the president and first lady during their last visit have been fired.

CBS 6 News' Shelby Brown received a statement from Mayor Dwight Jones's office Friday afternoon:

"The mayor agreed with the recommendations brought forward by Police Chief Norwood and CAO Byron Marshall and the two officers are no longer in service."

Brown reports the two men were fired last week. 

There have also been reports that an area pastor has called for Richmond Police Chief Bryan Norwood's resignation over how the investigation was handled. And a state lawmaker has also called for the two men to be fired.

The alleged threats happened before the president stopped at VCU’s Siegel Center in May. 

A source within the Richmond Police Department (RPD), who did not want to reveal his identity for fear of retribution, told CBS 6 News' Sandra Jones in May that inappropriate comments were made by a 20-year police veteran, against the president and first lady. [Source: RPD cops made ‘inappropriate comments’ about Obama, first lady]

“There was an officer providing exterior security to the President on that day on the phone with the supervisor. The supervisor said to that particular officer, ‘you’re down there right? So, you can take a couple of shots, you might have to kill yourself, but you can take a couple of shots.’”

The RPD source also told Jones that the supervisor said that to a sharpshooter while on the phone during the department’s roll call on the day of the president`s visit.

The source also said that “another officer in the background started talking and he said, ‘yeah, somebody should plant a bomb underneath the stage while they’re on there and blow it up.’ “

And the police source also said comments were allegedly made about Michelle Obama.

“Nobody wants to see her anyway — unless she gets undressed or get naked,” the source told Jones was what one officer said.

The department did not comment on the allegations, but said it was investigating the incident.

Additionally, a spokesperson said the Secret Service investigated the complaint, and did not find any wrongdoing. 

However, the whistleblower claims it took the police department two weeks before the matter was addressed.

“It makes me feel terrible, terrible,” said the whistleblowrer. “You see it as a loss. How could somebody in law enforcement be talking about killing somebody else…especially government. President of the United States, the highest in the land.”

Depend on CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for the latest updates on this developing story. 

RELATED: