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The Bedford, New Hampshire Police Department is investigating two officers for allegedly posting videos on TikTok that violated department policies forbidding social media use while in uniform and on duty.
One of the officers, who posted under the TikTok account @officer_tino, allegedly said that they should start a private channel with "no liberals allowed." Departmental policy also forbids officers from making political or divisive statements. The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
The officer also reportedly posted comedic videos to TikTok.
In one video, the officer asked an unseen person outside of their patrol car to stop stabbing another person. Comedic music played in the background of the video, which was captioned, "How the media/liberals want the police to be."
In a second video, the officer spoke told a person off-camera, "Hey, you look like you are going to shoot those people. Could you just not?"
The officer then told viewers, "Oh, he is pointing [the gun] at me. I am out." The officer eventually rolled up the window on his patrol car and drove away, according to The New Hampshire Union Leader.
The second officer, who allegedly posted videos under TikTok account @officerpiglet5oh, also made comedic videos commenting on life as an officer.
In one video, the officer called their patrol car's flashing emergency lights "the worst thing in the [expletive] world," adding, "It is a pretty bad thing to say since I am a cop."
In a second video, one uniformed officer asked another uniformed officer why they are running in the dark while holding their cell phone. The other responds, "I was recording a TikTok, dude."
Bedford Police Chief John Bryfonski said he learned about the first officer's video last Saturday and immediately launched an investigation. He said he learned of the second officer's videos the next day.
"We are taking it extraordinarily seriously," Bryfonski said. "The Bedford Police Department seeks to provide equal service and treatment to all people and any actions that sow doubt in our department's mission will be addressed in a timely and appropriate manner."
He added that any other officers involved will be addressed in line with department policies and procedures.
On Monday, local resident Ben Hahne filed a complaint about videos shared by @officer_tino.
"This is a bad representation of the use of taxpayer money. It was upsetting and instills very little confidence in the police department," Hahne said.
"I don't like this idea of us versus them," he continued, in reference to the first officer's comments against liberals. "It is upsetting that it does become a polarizing issue. Police officers shouldn't be making statements aligning themselves on any one political side."
The @officer_tino TikTok account has since been made private. It has over 174,900 followers and 1.8 million likes. The second officer's alleged TikTok account, @officerpiglet5oh, appears to have been deleted.
Newsweek contacted the Bedford Police Department for comment.
