A Washington D.C. police officer who worked as a motorcycle escort of the White House has been moved to administrative duty after allegedly making death threats against Michelle Obama.
The police department’s Internal Affairs Division is investigating alleged comments made by the police officer, whom officials would not identify. The officer is said to have commented Wednesday morning during roll call that he would shoot the first lady. He reportedly then pulled up a picture on his phone of the gun he would use.
D.C. police spokesman Gwendolyn Crump told the Washington Post in an email, “We received an allegation that inappropriate comments were made. We are currently investigating the nature of those comments,” According to the Post she would not discuss the matter further.
Officials are saying there was no indication of a legitimate danger to Michelle Obama, and that it was a bad joke made by someone who should have known better.
The Secret Service is aware of the incident, and “will conduct appropriate follow-up.”
“Pump the brakes on this one,” a Secret Service official told NBC.
The agency “respects the right to free speech,” said spokesman Brian Leary. “However, we have an obligation to determine the intent of the speaker.”
The officer, who is represented by the police union, has retained a lawyer.
photo: Johnny Louis/WENN