FOP demands resignation of commissioner over meme

Delaware County law enforcement organizations are calling for the resignation of Darby Township Commissioner Marvin Smith after he shared an image on social media depicting two Black men holding guns to the head of a white police officer.

“Does it have to come to this to make them stop murdering and terrorizing us?” a caption on the image reads. The post appeared to have been deleted from Smith’s Facebook page.

MedaiNews Group is not publishing the meme because of its violent nature.

Joseph Fitzgerald, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #27 for Delaware County, said in a release that leadership was “angered and outraged” by the image.

“This inflammatory post puts our police officers in grave danger and targets them for unnecessary violence and vitriol,” said Fitzgerald. “The Delco FOP leadership team and its members demand the immediate resignation of Commissioner Smith and his removal from the township’s public safety committee, as we believe he’s unfit to serve the residents of Darby Township. Our officers work tirelessly to serve the great residents of Darby Township and keep that community safe. This despicable rhetoric by Commissioner Smith only serves to divide us and creates distrust of law enforcement.”

Nether Providence Police Chief David Splain, who serves as president of the Delaware County Chiefs of Police Association, also vehemently condemned the post and said it inflames tensions in communities while promoting violence toward officers.

“Our police officers have been sworn to protect all of the residents of Delaware County and do so without regard to their personal safety on a daily basis,” said Splain. “(Smith) is an elected official who has oversight of the Darby Township Police Department who has clearly shown callous indifference to the lives of the police. He should resign immediately.”

Darby Township Commissioners board President Robert Gougler declined comment, saying the matter is under investigation. Smith did not respond to a request for comment Friday, but did issue a statement on his Facebook page saying the post “depicted the frustration of the community with the instances of rogue policing that have happened in cases like that of George Floyd and other instances that have caused our nation much discord.”

Smith said he supports and welcomes “good policing of our communities” and described himself as a “zealous ally of our friends in blue” who works with police on a daily basis.

He had recently shared another image of text reading: “Just to be clear, I support police officers, but not the ones who commit crimes. I support protesters, but not the ones who commit crimes. Yes it really is that simple.”

“Our nation and more specifically our communities are hurting,” he said in his statement Friday. “I regret and whole heartedly apologize if my sharing of that meme exacerbated any of the pain that individuals may be feeling. Perspective is everything and I stand before you with a more educated perspective and the intention to use that more educated perspective in my role as commissioner and my everyday role as your neighbor.”

Smith ended the statement by saying it would be the only comment he has on the matter.

Delaware County Council and District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer also put out a release Friday condemning Smith’s post and saying elected officials must be held to a higher standard.

“Now, more than ever, elected leaders must work with law enforcement to develop and practice positive community policing and mutual respect between law enforcement and the public,” the release states. “The social media post is not only threatening to law enforcement; it also continues to create a divide in our community. Violence only leads to more violence, and it is not a solution or justifiable. Promoting violence does not advance the movement to implement meaningful criminal justice reform that addresses long standing racial inequities.”

The statement added that council and the district attorney found it “extremely troubling” that an elected official would display a post portraying acts of violence and that his actions do not reflect the standards of the community as a whole.

“Elected officials of Delaware County are committed to providing leadership in police reform along with partners in law enforcement,” the statement reads. “We all lead by example, and expressions of hate and vengeance are inconsistent with the values of our community.”