A former Orange County Sheriff’s Office Deputy is no longer employed after comments on a Facebook post caused a social media stir.
Last week, Christopher Williams commented on local news station NBC 29’s coverage of protests in Charlottesville regarding President Donald Trump’s recent crackdown on immigration. The protesters lined both sides of U.S. 29 for several hours, calling for justice for immigrants. On the Facebook post highlighting the coverage, Williams commented, “Where is ICE? Makes it easy when their all in one place, don’t have to search for em,” implying those protesting were illegal immigrants. The comment was quickly identified by others as being from an Orange County Sheriff’s Office employee, prompting the office to conduct an internal investigation. The comment later disappeared.
Orange County Sheriff Jason Smith told local outlet Byrd Street that the comment was made while Williams was off duty and was in no way an official comment on behalf of the sheriff’s office. A social media policy is in place for employees of the sheriff’s office.
On Tuesday, Williams took to social media again, this time to apologize.
“My comments regarding the protest participants were wrong and unfair to those expressing their First Amendment rights,” he said. “One of the reasons I joined the military and became a police officer was to defend the rights of all Americans and to uphold the rule of law and the Constitution. America is a great country because we share the common interest of freedom and a respect for those we disagree with. I should have done better.
“My comments were due to my frustration as a police officer for 13 years during which I have seen what illegal immigration has done to our communities, particularly our rural communities with the rise of crime, human trafficking and fentanyl,” he continued.
Williams is no longer employed with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, but said “it was an honor to serve the citizens of Orange County and I wish the best for my colleagues at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.” He also praised Smith stating he would vote for him again.
Pretty sad they forced this man out over a perfectly reasonable comment on Facebook.
If the woke cancel mob can get a man fired over a comment who will want to work in Law Enforcement in Orange County? I’d say the comments the man made were not at all controversial except to the woke fringe.