Sheriff Chris Quire has reassigned the detective criticized by all five Franklin County public defenders for attending a pro-Trump rally that ended in a mob siege of the U.S. Capitol.
Quire announced the reassignment of Jeff Farmer "to another role in the sheriff's office" in a news release Sunday afternoon, two days after the group of public defenders released their letter. In that letter, they also criticized Farmer’s police record, making claims of racial bias that The State Journal has yet to verify.
Because of those accusations, Quire said that “a thorough investigation” will be conducted.
Did Franklin County Sheriff Chris Quire do the right thing in reassigning a detective who was criticized by public defenders for attending last week's Trump rally in Washington, D.C., and for alleged misconduct during his law enforcement career?
Farmer has not responded to a request for comment.
In the release, Quire made clear that his reassignment of Farmer was not due to his attending the Trump rally in Washington, D.C., as he found no proof that Farmer took part in illegal activities there.
“The freedom to assemble is an inalienable right given to us by our Constitution,” Quire wrote. “The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office supports the right of all citizens, including its deputies, to exercise their First Amendment right. As for questions of Detective Farmer committing any crime during the event, he has stated his innocence and that is a presumption fundamental to the rule of law in our country. No evidence has been presented that indicates Detective Farmer committed any crime.”
Quire stressed that he took time to search for facts regarding both sets of accusations — Farmer’s involvement in the rally and the allegations concerning his past police work.
“I have read and re-read the letter sent regarding Detective Farmer," Quire wrote. "Due to the severity of the accusations levied, I took the time to evaluate the facts listed in the letter."
The public defenders, in their letter, wrote that Farmer has “been involved in many cases which reflect targeting and racial profiling.”
Quire said that his office appreciates all citizens who have reached out since the letter was first published.
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So, what was all of this insurrection really all about? Black lives matter, or Black Votes Matter? My money is on the latter.
That’s right. Our good black votes ushered in Biden and Harris . In Georgia the black vote is the only reason the democratic senators from that state won their election and we now have as a nation a majority rule of Democrats . With this capable majority at the helm , they will protect our freedom of democracy from Trump and those like him . Plus clean up the nasty mess that these Republicans and their insurrectionist have left. Invoking the 14 th amendment is vital to rid our government of those insurrectionist “ hiding “ as elected public servants
"Reassigned?" That interprets into the Franklin County Sheriff PROTECTING his deputy who participated with right-wing skinheads to trespass into and vandalize the United States capitol building. This is the most disappointing thing that has occurred on Quire's watch thus far. Why would he hide away this bad man on his payroll rather than terminate him? This stinks!
Detective Farmer attended an extremist rally that was an incitement to insurrection and whose intent was to overturn a lawful election.
This alone is a reason to strip him of his badge.
This is not a free speech issue. Attendance at the rally alone is a representation of his extremist views and for him to continue in any law enforcement role is a wrong move by Sheriff Quire.
I will be supporting another candidate for Sheriff in the next election. I do not trust Sheriff Quire's judgment nor his ability to keep all of the citizens of Franklin County safe.
I'm not sure we can make a ballot decision based on what has occurred so far in this matter.
While Sheriff Quire was quick to say the reassignment wasn't 'because' of Farmer's attendance, but it is an opportunity for Farmer overall to be looked at.
If this looks like another "We investigated ourselves and found we did no wrong." Melton review then I may join you in choosing another candidate.
I do not condone violence, in any way, from the left or right. Having said that, this IS a free speech issue! And for freedom to assemble. And Detective Farmer has every right to pursue his constitutional rights, like every citizen. Let's get real here folks, what this is really about is the Left's all consuming hatred of Trump and his supporters. And it has been for 4 years now.
Now, it's open season on all law enforcement in America, because they are all interpreted to have supported Trump. Det. Farmer said the rioters were a disgrace, and they were! And the SJ couldn't validate any claims/accusations by Nathan Goodrich made against Det. Farmer. Can no one say anything positive about our law enforcement? They lay their lives on the line for us everyday! And the vast majority are good, fine men and women. We are lucky to have any police to protect us in the hostile atmosphere that exists against them in America today.
And, when the Frankfort police recently announced that they had hired 2 new recruits after graduated the academy, Cecelia Mitchel denounced them for "being white". That's odd, because she is white too, but you see she is a good "woke" liberal, so that absolves her from her whiteness. Disgusting! But you see, that's how the Left's delusional logic works. They are always seething with hatred for anything conservative. And isn't it odd, whenever Antifa or BLM riot, as they did all last summer in America, they are described as "mostly peaceful". Total hypocrisy!!
I support the Sheriff's decision in this matter. We need and appreciate our law enforcement!
The “ Trump supporters “/ domestic terrorist/violent mob killed a policeman, remember? What happened to blue lives matter? It was an armed insurrection attempt to take over our democracy. Antifa stands for anti- Facist ,against far right authoritarian, dictatorial power and forceable suppression , all things Trump has attempted in his 4 years in office as an illegitimate president. I do not support the QAnon or the Antifa gun waving conspiracy theories modes although I am anti- Facist .BLM is about whites racism and suppression towards blacks - white cops killing blacks.
Billions of dollars of property losses, thousands of businesses burned, over 1000 policemen injured, twenty three people killed, hundreds beaten.....all by left wing terrorist groups BLM and Antifa. Don`t tell me, that was Trump`s fault too right? Where was your anger directed then?
Two police dead in DC at the hands of insurrectionist Trumpers. In paragraph 3 you use the term 'disgusting' in reference to Cecelia. I'm not sure you understand the meaning of the word in this context. I recommend that you step in front of a mirror and repeat it 10 times.
Jeffery, thanks for pointing out that slur by this Trump lover against our logical friend Cecilia.
Wonder if Ron ,Don and Joe still support Trump? They didn’t flat out say it ? What are they hiding? Freedom of speech still here isn’t it?
I totally agree with you Ron L.
What specifically?
Hear hear!
Yes Don , your summary of losses was all Trumps fault too - that’s why he’s not going to be president ( he really never was).
If the country wants BLM to stop demonstrating in the streets, they must stop cops from murdering unarmed black men there. We aren't doing it for kabuki theater! It really is just that simple.
We need to be very clear that insurrection is not a debate between competing views in America, we are dealing with a crime against the nation. There are not two legitimate sides on what happened at the Capital on Wednesday, which is a crime scene, and investigation of a crime scene, and not just another political matter. The defendants should have due process, but the intention and the energy of this mob was apparent from the very beginning. They had to know that when they went. What we need is accountability. Don't talk to me about unity, or turning the page or moving forward! Unity is a political concept, not a murder investigation of trial, it is irrelevant. As is this false equivalency attempt of BLM protests.
How is Sheriff Quire going to investigate Farmer's actions from afar? Did he go? Did he know that Farmer was going. How many other deputies went to Washington to participate in this riot? This wasn't a rally t drum up votes, as the election was long ago decided. Trump told us what they was going to be about, and how it was going to get wild, so don't miss it!
This was a purposeful trip to obstruct the counting of the electoral votes, and send a message terror to the members of Congress. That is all that this was. So, knowing that, how could Farmer not be considered as part of the conspiracy to obstruct the duly held election?
This most certainly is not a "free speech" issue. You are not free to yell out fire in a crowded theater! Speech that is dangerous and false and likely to incite imminent lawless action, is not protected! The proof whether this speech was dangerous and false, and therefore insurrection, is in the pudding, and well documented with video evidence by the very participants who planned it and then carried it out.
These domestic terrorist incited by Trump and his minions, violently broke through police lines and into the Capitol building, gaining access to lawmakers' offices and the Senate chamber in search of Vice President Mike Pence, who they threatened to hang. They were hunting! What would they have done to Speaker Pelosi if they had found her? Or Rep. Jim Clyburn, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus?
These illegal antics of these hoodlum, leaving damage and destruction in their wake, are well documented. Nothing peaceful about it. Five people died by their actions, including a Capital Police Officer who was bludgeoned to death with a fire extinguisher. Blue lives mattered to them only when they weren't in their way to create mayhem and chaos.
Somebody has that video. Maybe somebody has the video of Farmer breaking the law. The FBI is searching through hours of video with face recognition capabilities, looking for police officers that we are finding out were represented in much higher numbers than originally thought.
If he did not enter the Capital building, what did he do all of those hours that hooligans roamed the halls and corridors searching for their prey? Stand outside in the cold?
This isn't about "appreciating law enforcement", this is about a criminal investigation, where LEOs are already being fired, charged and soon to be convicted of these crimes.
Rather than condemn the rioters' actions, Trump lied to them in a video that was released later after nearly all of their damage was conducted by the terrorists: "We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election, and everyone knows it. So go home, we love you and you're very special."
The country is in crisis because these people were insurrectionist and fomenting rebellion...which is why they went to Washington from all over the country. They were they worst of the worst...deplorables. And all of the speakers on the stage with Trump and his minions were all guilty of insurrection and rebellion under the 18 U.S. Code § 2383. That statute is so clear that it even says that if you set the rebellion on foot, which Trump set right there on Constitution Avenue, not only that but seditious conspiracy and advocating the over throw of the government, those three statutes were all violated. Besides assault on the police and all of those other statutes. So, this many, many statutes are going to result in lots of charges.
The insurrection by Trump supporters at the Capitol was met with police leniency, a contrast to longstanding police treatment of Black Lives Matter activists and other protesters. These are the documented facts. They are worth watching until America faces the reality and decides: Are we going to do something about it?
These on social media , supporters of the attack on the Capitol and the insurrectionist ARE trying to make it a debate on competing views! They are using it as a veil to cover up this insurrection attempt support
Antifa is not an organization but rather an anti-fascist ideology, and BLM is not trying to overturn a duly held national election or destroy our democracy.
Yes Jim , that word “ Antifa”is mistaken by many as an organization- when, as you point out it’s an ideology or philosophy, a collection of ideas by a group of people - just like capitalism is ideology. Interesting.
That is a true statement.
Those ideology’s like antifa are thought of as groups while active thenwhen they die back become an ideology going down in history ? Like capitalist are considered a group of people that believe in the ideology of capitalism. The anti- Facist ( group of people) believe in anti-facism ( ideology) that group and ideology meaning has been blurred with the abbreviation “ antifa”
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