(Image Source: KPHO)
BY LAUREN ZIMA
A photo under fire -- of a T-shirt under fire. A picture of young men in Arizona holding a shirt filled with bullet holes is causing controversy, because the shirt has President Obama’s face on it.
“The Secret Service is now investigating this photo, posted on the Facebook page of a Peoria police officer. The photo shows several young men carrying guns and holding up a T-shirt of President Barack Obama that appears to be riddled with bullets.”
The picture has since been taken down from Facebook, and local police are investigating, too -- because the picture was posted by one of their own: Sergeant Pat Shearer. He remains on duty, but KPHO says the department is determining ...
“...if he violated social media policy. The policy says posting information regarding off-duty activity that may tend to bring an officer’s reputation into question is strongly discouraged.”
Shearer posted the photo with the caption “another trip to the ranch,” though his connection to anyone in the picture remains unclear. But, is the Secret Service investigation warranted? MSNBC has a statement from the agency.
“We respect the right of free speech and expression but we certainly have the right and obligation to speak to individuals to determine what their intent is ... We treat anything (any potential threat) seriously. We can't dismiss anything."
Still, KNVX spoke with Shearer, who says he is embarrassed, but doesn’t think shooting the t-shirt is a big deal.
“I don’t think that them shooting up the t-shirt was a big deal, no. It was more of a political statement obviously. It’s not like they were going to shoot the president or something like that, no.”
And KSAZ spoke with a former Secret Service agent, who protected presidents in the past. He says if the photo was meant as a joke, he’s not impressed. The station also examines what the law says.
“There’s nothing funny about that.”
“Under federal law, joking is allowed, but there is a line that can’t be crossed when it comes to the presidency. The law mentions that any document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap or to inflict bodily harm of the President of the United States is an item worthy of investigation.”
According to The New York Times, at least one of the men pictured in that photo is a high school student.
