Released: September 4, 2020
Delaware County Council and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer have been made aware of a social media post allegedly posted by an elected member of the Darby Township Commissioners. The social media post depicts two men with a gun pointed at the head of a police offer with the text “Does it have to come to this to make them stop murdering and terrorizing us?’
Delaware County Council and the Delaware County District Attorney condemn all forms of violence and intimidation. Violence and the threat of violence are not tolerated.
Elected leaders are held to a higher standard and should serve as role models for the community.
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 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.
Council and the District Attorney find it extremely troubling that an elected official would display a post portraying acts of violence. The actions displayed by this elected official do not reflect what Delaware County is as a whole- a community who stands together and has compassion for our fellow residents and respect for those who serve and protect our community. Elected officials of Delaware County are committed to providing leadership in police reform along with partners in law enforcement. We all lead by example, and expressions of hate and vengeance are inconsistent with the values of our community.