REINSTATED
Fired Media cop gets job back but chooses to retire
After firing him three months ago following a social media controversy, Media Borough Council reversed course and reinstated Sgt. Robert “Skippy” Carroll with full pay and rank.
Carroll, first vice president of the Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 27, retired from the Media Borough Police Department June 30 after serving for more than 25 years. He currently works in the private sector.
“Robert ‘Skippy’ Carroll has served Media Borough and Delaware County for nearly 30 years with a solid record of integrity, respect, and professionalism,” said FOP Lodge 27 President Joseph Fitzgerald. “We’re proud to call Carroll, a friend, colleague and great public servant.”
Media Mayor Robert McMahon declined to comment on the case but said borough council’s reversal came after advice from its attorney, after consulting with the attorney from the FOP
The Fraternal Order of Police was prepared to vigorously defend Carroll to get his job back before borough council voted 6-1 to reinstate Carroll to his sergeant position with full pay and benefits.
“I’m humbled by all the support from my family, friends, law enforcement community, and residents all across Delaware County,” Carroll said. “I’m thankful this issue is behind us and I know firsthand that as police officers, we work tirelessly to serve our communities and residents with the utmost respect and integrity.”
The controversy began when Carroll and Dan Wolf of Wolf’s Superior Sandwiches in Aston exchanged words on a Facebook post in June.
On June 3, the sandwich shop owner read a post that said, “All lives matter.” He felt that Black Lives Matter is not a separatist movement and that Black people don’t deserve to die for no reason so he responded, “Do they, though?”
Carroll then responded on the FOP’s Facebook page: “If you choose to speak out against the police or our members, we will do everything in our power to not support your business.” Then, on his own personal Facebook page, Carroll wrote, “Try us. We’ll destroy you.” Those comments were later taken down.
Carroll was placed on administrative leave and issued a statement that read, “This is a trying time for law enforcement. Officers are being murdered and assaulted at a record pace. Wednesday night, I made a post that was poorly worded and interpreted by some as inciting violence. That was not my intention and I apologize to those who were offended.”
Wolf said he received death threats and all other kinds of comments - and then he reached out to Carroll privately on Facebook. The two began a long conversation, which ultimately ended in mutual understanding. Carroll even met with Wolf at the sandwich shop with Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
On June 4, calls for Carroll’s resignation began, including from the Delaware County Black Legislative Caucus. State Sen. Anthony Williams, D-8 of Philadelphia, whose district includes parts of Delaware County, said Carroll should not only be terminated but also prosecuted.
“He decided in this space, in this moment, in this time, in uniform, to say, ‘We the police … will use our positions to shut you down.’ If you cannot trust your police, you cannot have a civil society. If you cannot trust the fact that somebody wearing .ablue uniform is there for good, we cannot have a civil society. This gentleman does not just simply require to move on and get out of the way, he deserves the weight, the foot, if not the knee of justice,” Williams said at the time.
On June 5, more than 60 people stood outside the Delco FOP headquarters calling for Carroll’s resignation.
On July 1, borough council voted to demote Carroll and terminate his employment, effective immediately.
Media Borough issued a statement after making that decision. It read, “Car roll’s threatening posts violated his obligations under Media Police Department’s Code of Conduct to faithfully and impartially enforce the laws in our borough, to conduct himself in a professional and courteous manner towards the public and to preserve the peace and civil order at all times. His egregious messaging and posts were designed to threaten and dissuade the public and our business owners from ever speaking out against the police especially during a time of a nationwide social justice movement for police reform. At a time of social unrest and examination of police misconduct Carroll did the opposite of his sworn duties by escalating social tensions, bringing severe disrepute upon Media police and breaching the trust that our police department has long worked to build with the citizens of Media and the greater community.”
At his firing, Media Police Chief Martin Wusinich had only one word: “Absurd.”
On Friday, Fitzgerald said the FOP was pleased but that borough council overreacted.
“We’re delighted,” he said. “We’re delighted of the outcome of it.”
He said Carroll was always one of the first to help with community events the FOP sponsored whether it was toy, food or coat distributions. Some of the toy giveaways went to children in 13 states, Fitzgerald said.
“He’s always right there stepping up to help us with this,” the FOP president said. “It’s all an unfortunate disagreement - that they themselves amicably resolved. It just got out of hand a little bit. They absolutely resolved it between themselves. He’s a great officer and I’m glad this is over for him.”
He said that the firing influenced Carroll’s decision to retire, adding, “He just figured it’s just time to go.”
Fitzgerald said the FOP was ready to challenge the termination, including taking it to arbitration.
“Media Borough Council, they overreacted, they rushed to judgement,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m really upset about the stain that Media Borough put on him. I think they overreacted in the beginning. They moved too quick. They didn’t have to move that fast. Borough council just moved too fast ... How do you end a career like that and run somebody out of town?”