‘Unacceptable for an officer’: Citizen says DPD Lieutenant threatened her through fake account
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — The Decatur Police Department, already reeling from the murder indictment of former officer Mac Marquette, is facing new allegations concerning the online behavior of one of its top officers.
On Wednesday, Decatur’s Police Chief Todd Pinion said that he was reviewing “officer conduct” within his department over negative interactions between his officers and a few members of the community.
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On Thursday, city officials told News 19 that Lieutenant Joe Renshaw has been using an alternate identity to criticize Decatur community members on social media.
“I think that’s just unacceptable for an officer, especially a lieutenant,” said Decatur Citizen Raven Ryder.
Ryder, very active on social media, says that she never uses her real name on her accounts. However, a recent exchange with the account used by Renshaw, ‘Phil,’ turned into threats using her real name.
She became alarmed by the exchange.
“My husband messaged it and was basically like, leave her alone. What are you doing? And it was then that it got back and forth,” said Ryder.
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The Facebook messenger exchange was graphic between Renshaw, Ryder and her husband.
Ryder says the exchange frightened her, but she was shocked and yet relieved after seeing the chief’s statement about the department reviewing “officer conduct.” She hopes that the chief is talking about Renshaw and that this leads to his dismissal from the force.
“I mean honestly there’s no trusting the police department,” Ryder explained. “There’s none whatsoever and as each week passes by, there’s more that comes out that shows how they are continually failing.”
She says she will continue to voice her displeasure with the the Decatur Police Department’s actions until the misconduct is disciplined.
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