A Bedford police officer has paid administrative leave as the department investigates a series of TikTok videos showing him in uniform and in a cruiser.
A second Bedford policeman’s TikTok posts are also being examined.
“We take it extremely seriously,” said police chief John Bryfonski in a statement on Monday.
In one of the video postings, an officer with the TikTok account @officer_tino rolls down the window of a police vehicle and yells, “Hey, you look like you’re going to shoot these people. You just couldn’t, oh, he points it to me. I’m outside. “Then he winds up the window and drives away.
In another segment he tells an invisible person to stop stabbing someone while weird music is playing in the background.
Bryfonski said the department does not allow its officials to make divisive or political statements or use social media while on duty, in uniform and with departmental equipment.
“The Bedford Police Department is committed to providing the same service and treatment to all people and any actions that cast doubts about our department’s mission will be addressed in a timely and appropriate manner,” said the chief.
The boss said he learned about a TikTok video on Saturday and immediately ordered an investigation. On Sunday, he became aware of a compilation of TikTok videos by the two officials posted on YouTube.
“If other Bedford police officers are involved in inappropriate videos or postings, additional action will be taken that is in line with the department’s policies and procedures,” the chief said in a statement that did not include the identity of the officers.
The two officers are identified by name in the YouTube compilation video, and the person posting it says photos on the Bedford police website match the officers’ faces in the videos.
On Monday, a Merrimack resident filed a formal complaint about the videos.
“This is a poor portrayal of the use of taxpayers’ money,” said Ben Hahne.
“It was annoying and gives the police department very little confidence,” said Hahne, who lives on the Bedford border.
“This makes me feel less secure in my own region,” said Hahne about the TikTok contributions.
One of the most disturbing comments, Hahne said, was “no liberals allowed,” made by the officer with the @officer_tino account. The video was originally posted on the official’s public account, which has since been privatized.
“I don’t like that idea of us versus them. It’s annoying that it becomes a polarizing topic. Police officers shouldn’t make statements that are political, ”he said.
In one video, a second officer known on TikTok as @ Officerspiglet5oh complains about the cruiser’s flashing emergency lights.
“I know it’s a pretty bad thing to say since I’m a cop, but those blinking lights are the worst thing in the (expletive) world,” he said.
In another TikTok post by @ Officerpiglet5oh, an officer in uniform runs outside in the dark while carrying his phone. A second officer, also in uniform, drives past in his cruiser. He asks why his colleague is running and receives the answer: “I took a TikTok, dude.”
Bryfonski said the department has “robust social media and employment policies that govern behavior on and off-duty”.
A review of social media policies has been initiated to ensure that it is in line with modern best practices, he said.
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