ADAMS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – Adams County Sheriff James Muller is facing backlash after appearing to post a photo to social media showing a blood-splattered truck and the caption “Protester Edition.”
The photo posted on Muller’s Facebook page showed a pickup truck with red paint splattered on the hood and tires, purported to be blood. The photo was captioned “The All New Dodge Ram Protester Edition.”
Adams County Commissioner Marty Qually reacted to the post in a statement to abc27, calling the post “appalling” and saying Muller put citizens at risk.
“The majority of the board of commissioners are drafting a statement to condemn Sheriff Muller’s actions. While I support the words in the statement, I will not be supporting the statement itself, as it has no repercussions. Statements of horror and disgust at this action are as useless as “thoughts and prayers” after a mass shooting. They do nothing to change the future. In fact in this case his statement is worse than doing nothing. His statements imply that violence is an acceptable response to lawful peaceful assembly.
The Sheriff has placed law abiding citizens and law enforcement at risk through his comments. While I respect our deputies, our security team, and local law enforcement, I have serious concerns when a law enforcement leader condoning violence against innocent residents.
abc27 has reached out to the Sheriff’s Office for comment, but has not heard back at this time.
Muller has served in law enforcement for more than 26 years, primarily with the sheriff’s office. He’s served as sheriff for more than 16 years, according to his office biography.
Muller did not run for re-election in the May primary and has run unopposed in his most recent elections.
The post comes amid several questionable comments nationwide on how law enforcement should handle protesters.
Ahead of last weekend’s “No Kings” rallies, Brevard County, Florida, Sheriff Wayne Ivey issued a grave warning to protesters.
“If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your families where to collect your remains at because we will kill you graveyard dead,” Ivey said, according to WFLA.
As WFLA also reported, during an appearance on The Rubin Report podcast last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said drivers would not face consequences for hitting a protester who threatens them.
“We also have a policy that if you’re driving on one of those streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have the right to flee for your safety. If you drive off and you hit one of these people, that’s their fault for impinging on you,” DeSantis said.
