Pat Shearer, Arizona Policeman, Draws Secret Service Probe For Photo Of Shot-Up Obama Shirt

The Secret Service has launched an investigation into Peoria, Ariz. Police Sgt. Pat Shearer after a picture appeared on his Facebook page showing seven young men holding up a shirt with President Barack Obama's face on it, riddled with bullet holes.

The photo, uploaded to Facebook on Jan. 20 with the caption, "Another trip to the ranch," shows the group in a line, four holding firearms, with the perforated t-shirt between them bearing Obama's likeness above his 2008 campaign slogan, "Hope." The picture was removed on Thursday, after the Secret Service began looking into the matter.

"We're aware of it, and we're conducting the appropriate follow-up steps," Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan told The New York Times.

The Peoria Police Department has also mounted its own internal probe into the photo.

"We have a social media policy that addresses employee conduct with respect of the use of social media," Jay Davies, a spokesman for the department, told Arizona CBS affiliate KPHO.

He said that Shearer would remain on duty while they investigate whether his actions violate their social media policy, which states, in part, that "posting information regarding off-duty activity that may tend to bring an officer's reputation into question is strongly discouraged."

In a later interview, Shearer said the imagery of the picture is being taken out of context.

"I don't think that the shooting of that t-shirt is that big of a deal. ... I think it was more of a political statement," Shearer told Arizona's ABC15. "Obviously, it's not like they were going to go out and shoot the president, no."

Shearer went on to say he would sacrifice his own life for Obama's.

(Video report above, via KPHO)

PHOTO:

Comments

[Rooster Coburn]

01:08 AM on 03/01/2012

It was just a joke and after all he is a Sgt. on the police force of his community. Don't think we have to worry that he will be gunning for the President for real. Some people just don't recognize humor when they see it. It may not have been the most tasteful joke of all time but what's a little raunchy humor between friends?

[jjnella08]

12:41 PM on 02/02/2012

Shearer is an officer of the law and therefore must be held to a highr standard than the average facebook user. To post an image where the President of the United States' (no matter who is President) photo is riddled with bullet holes is a very telling statement about his mindset. He seems like the type who would secretly be in one of these milita groups that would eventual bomb a goverment building. I would be skeptical of his ability to uphold the law in any manner that he does not "see fit" to abide by. He should be investigated, fired and not allowed to hold any law enforcement position in any of the States.

[Brett Lloyd]

03:08 PM on 01/31/2012

Nothing this man did was illegal, PERIOD. It's the same as burning the American Flag, I don't agree with doing that or what Shearer did, but how many of you hypocrites support the freedom of speech. Yes the Secret Service has to look in to it, but in the end there is nothing illegal with desecration of an image. How many times was George W.'s image burned or hung in the US? HYPOCRITES!!!

[Harry Johnson]

04:46 PM on 02/02/2012

not enough

[prgordon49]

11:13 PM on 02/28/2012

Not nearly enough. Posting this on his facebook shows support

[Mr-Mikey]

10:45 AM on 02/03/2012

Do you have documentation that this event happened in the US on anywhere near the scale as the wingers have hung, shot, burned, or otherwised disfigured our Current President's image?

[SequoiaFree]

12:15 AM on 01/31/2012

Greetings, I just posted a comment on the Sgt. Pat Shearer issue. I did not know he had done this posting of the picture IN SUPPORT of the actions portrayed here....I just realized that after listening to the video. SO PLEASE do not post my comment, or please remove it, and please do not post this one. THANK YOU!

[gpporgy]

08:26 PM on 01/31/2012

sequoia....screw you

[Karissa36]

09:31 AM on 02/04/2012

It's OK, Sequoia. We all make mistakes. People who admit their mistakes are stronger, smarter, and more ethical than those who claim to always be right. They also are one heck of a lot easier to live with and work with. You have my respect.

[SequoiaFree]

12:03 AM on 01/31/2012

PERMISSION > for KILLING PEOPLE > often starts this way!!! LOOK AT HOW MANY RIGHT WING CONSERVATIVES HAVE KILLED PEOPLE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, often based on stupid rhetoric and fake news, made up by FOX!!! > IT WAS A GOOD THING that this policeman EXPOSED the "MOTIVATION" of these people, even IF they don't do what their picture portrays!!!!!!!!!!! > KILLING PEOPLE is not a JOKE!!! > AND, isn't it interesting that no one threatened BUSH when he was driving the USA into the ground financially!!!! > AND, even now, with THE FACTS on paper about the economy, the same people that supported him are upset with OBAMA!!! > Looks like they have been put into a trance by the Right Wing!!!

[MekhongKurt]

10:08 PM on 01/30/2012

Just think, this guy is part of the thin blue line expected to protect people. Further, given that he is a sergeant, I assume he oversees other police officers. Yes, I know he said after the fact that he is willing to sacrifice his own life to protect the President, but I do have at least some doubt about the sincerity of his statement.

The guy on the far right is wearing a mighty provocative T-shirt, considering the context -- it reads "JUST DO IT."

At best, extremely poor judgment -- childishly shooting up the shirt, THEN taking a picture of their handiwork, THEN posting it to FACEBOOK, which now has somewhere in the range of 800 MILLION users???

Triple fail. If this were baseball, this "player-cop" would be OUT.

[iSleepy]

09:21 PM on 01/31/2012

"Just Do It" is the Nike slogan...
Just saying.

[Karissa36]

09:54 AM on 02/04/2012

I agree, "Just Do It" might be the Nike slogan, but it's place in this picture is threatening. The Officer blocked out the faces in the picture, but left the slogan.

[MekhongKurt]

03:01 PM on 02/05/2012

I would have been outraged had I seen JUST the shot-up shirt in isolation -- but the facts you point out are what made be go from "merely a major volcanic rage" to a Richter 20 earthquake one, Karissa36.

[Hugo W Merida]

01:12 AM on 01/30/2012

ANOTHER BLACK SPOT TO THE ARIZONA’S DALMATIANS.. BUT NOW ..IT IS NOT IMMIGRATIONS..IT IS JUST PLAINLY XENOPHOBIA FROM PUBLIC SERVANTS..!!..

[one1byke]

10:27 PM on 01/29/2012

"Shearer went on to say he would sacrifice his own life for Obama's."

Great... what's he waiting for?!

[itolduso]

01:30 PM on 01/30/2012

I wonder if Shearer realizes that his thoughtless actions increased the chances that at least one law enforcement officer or Secret Service agent may have to sacrifice their life to protect the President from the nutcases that will be inspired by his photos? How will he feel if a law officer dies because someone was motivated by his foolishness?

[Brett Lloyd]

03:09 PM on 01/31/2012

Show him how... you go first

[one1byke]

04:01 PM on 01/31/2012

You're as clever as rain in April, BRETT.

[outlawjames8]

10:10 PM on 01/29/2012

Am I the only one bothered by a bunch of kids walking around with assault weapons?

[Merrill Sampson]

11:09 AM on 01/30/2012

Yes you are. Welcome to America.

[outlawjames8]

01:45 PM on 01/30/2012

I was born and raised in NYC and have seen my share of guns and violence. Still I doubt I'm the only one here that find kids walking around with automatic weapons odd. There's nothing inherently American about that.

[MaryJane]

04:24 PM on 01/30/2012

No. This has nothing to do with American "tradition" of hunting/gathering and supplying meat for the table. This is a macho mental defect.

This should scare repubs who are always on about, "if you allow this then you will allow that." Example, "if you let gays marry, what next? People marrying animals?"

If children are allowed to shoot up pictures of the President, what next? Shooting actual persons?

[outlawjames8]

05:42 PM on 01/30/2012

I know there are plenty here with sense. For a while a month didn't go by without a school shooting. These parents and cop feel it's OK for teens to have these types of weapons. I'm all for responsible gun ownership even teaching kids. But this is over the top.
And how clueless is this sheriff to post their deed?

[Brett Lloyd]

03:10 PM on 01/31/2012

If people are allowed to burn the flag what's next disagreeing with the president... OMG NO.

[l78lancer]

12:41 AM on 01/29/2012

""I don't think that the shooting of that t-shirt is that big of a deal. ... I think it was more of a political statement," Shearer told Arizona's ABC15. "Obviously, it's not like they were going to go out and shoot the president, no.""
--------------------------------------------------->

Really? REALLY? Not that big a deal? A political statement? He is not a kid. He may be dumb, but he's an adult. This is the part where he gets to find out that they are accountable for what they say.

[lookbuzz]

10:02 PM on 01/28/2012

At the very, very minimum, extremely poor judgement on his part.

Didn't racists used to put up stereotypical pictures of blacks in the old days and say they "wuz jes dooin a lil shootin" ?

[morgansher]

03:15 PM on 01/29/2012

Yes they did.

[Slybuck]

08:43 PM on 01/28/2012

When does it become too much?

He needs a long holiday in prison.

[l78lancer]

12:41 AM on 01/29/2012

Unfortunately for some people, never. They are born that way.

[OLJW00]

04:33 PM on 01/29/2012

Yeah...and it has ZERO to do with political ideology...

[sskepticall]

10:09 AM on 01/29/2012

I will be satisfied if he just loses his job. For a job that is all related about determinig "what the right thing is" anyone this boneheaded shouldn't be on the streets carrying a gun and wearing a uniform that apparently is a masquerade for having some legitimacy.

He'a a Sargaent? He should be suspended during the investigation. How many more in that picture are affiliated with the PD? They should all be suspended, investigated and I believe terminated.

Their code of behavior made me laugh. It's the classic "non-specific" violation rules so that if they want to they can say - "You over there - you violated the rules so off with your head" and "You other fella - same rule violation but we kinda like you fishing buddy (car pool buddy, coffee buddy) so just knock it off."

Standards you can drive a sem-truck through. That's their "SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY". So what the heck is their CRIMINAL VIOLATION POLICY that brings in the SECRET SERVICE?

[outlawjames8]

09:46 PM on 01/29/2012

The fact that he's a Sargent tells you the mind set of his superiors. If he's that blatant I'm sure this is not the first time he "expressed" himself.

[revdoc14]

07:24 PM on 01/28/2012

Her we go again. What is wrong with some of these Arizona folks. Brewer, the pink pj sheriff and now these men. Maybe they don't feel a part of our nation. No matter what is said, ti is racism in it purest form...To think, at least one of these men are in charge of law enforcement duties. God help the men of color in his district.

[outlawjames8]

09:48 PM on 01/29/2012

Just think of how much fun it is for minorities living there.

[prgordon49]

11:21 PM on 02/28/2012

You cut through the chase and nailed it again.

[Karissa36]

10:17 AM on 02/04/2012

Maybe the officer just doesn't like the President. That's really all we know about him, along with the fact that he has very poor judgment. Not liking the President does not automatically make a person racist.

[revdoc14]

12:39 AM on 02/07/2012

plausible denial. Not to many folks (Black/White) shot at pictures of a Black or White man/woman without racial words on both sides. To think otherwise is very naive......

[Henry Rolligns]

06:19 PM on 01/28/2012

kind of like those bush effigies? The SS are out in force.

[MekhongKurt]

10:22 PM on 01/30/2012

Mr. Rolligns, if your point is that it's "okay" for someone to shoot up a picture of President Obama because "Bushwhackers" behaved disgracefully towards President Bush, you're completely wrong.

If a burglar caught in the act correctly pointed out that some other guy had committed exactly the same crime but never even got arrested, much less charged and convicted, then -- using your logic -- the burglar should be told, "You're right -- he did that, so you're free to go. Sorry for the inconvenience."

I disapproved and still disapprove of the effigies of President Bush, and do so every bit as much as I disapprove this shot-up shirt bearing President Obama's image. Both are utterly disgraceful.

By all means, nail people for this sort of trash -- but not on a purely partisan basis (nor regional, national, ethnic, religious, etc. one).

[Brett Lloyd]

03:19 PM on 01/31/2012

It wasn't a crime to burn effigies of President Bush and it's not illegal to shoot T-shirts of President Obama. The Secret Service must investigate to see if there is a credible threat against the president, but in the end these people are exercising their freedom of speech, just like people who burn the flag. I'm not saying it's ok, but it is constitutionally protected according to the Supreme Court.

[optimiskeptic]

05:41 PM on 01/28/2012

HP Moderators: When I clicked on this article from the HP headlines, I only got white space where the article should have been. I didn't find it until I searched for it on Google News.