An MPD officer, with the department’s special operations division, is allegedly being investigated by his own department and the Secret Service, accused of making a comment about shooting First Lady Michelle Obama. “When someone signs on for a job to protect and service, that’s your job,” says DC resident Nancy McDonnell. The officer in question, who is now on desk duty, has occasionally served on Mrs. Obama’s motorcycle escort. The Washington Post says the threats were made Wednesday, during a discussion among officers about White House security. The Post also reports the officer used his phone to show a picture of the gun he would use. “For making these threats, it needs to be dealt with,” says Melvin Williams. “Common sense. Why would you threaten the first lady? That really doesn’t make any sense at all.”Investigators are not identifying the officer. The Secret Service confirms it’s investigating, along with MPD Internal Affairs. 
MPD Chief Cathy Lanier declined to comment on the case. Departmental spokeswoman Gwen Crump issued a statement: “We received an allegation that inappropriate comments were made. We are currently investigating on the nature of those comments.” Sources tell ABC News the remarks, while offensive, appear to be an off-hand comment, perhaps intended as a joke. “Maybe he didn’t mean to say that out loud, for everybody to hear,” says Dre Walters, a DC resident, who spoke outside MPD headquarters.
“These are the people who are protecting our country, so I guess it should be handled— be some kind of consequence,” Walters adds. Alexandria resident Jonathan Hareid, who works in the District, says the allegations must be investigated thoroughly. “If it turns out to be true, I’d say the officer should be dealt with very harshly, probably fired, ” he adds.
Ordinarily, a verbal threat directed at the president can result in a felony charge. Sources tell ABC News the officer will likely face administrative action, versus criminal charges.
McConnell is emphatic about how safety should be the first concern. She says this is no laughing matter. “If I was the president, or the president’s wife, and I had somebody who potentially could be threatening, I wouldn’t want to do anything with him, and wouldn’t want him around me,” she says.
Source: Washington Post
