Flomaton Police Fight Back Against Social Media Criticism

August 14, 2019

The Flomaton Police Department on Tuesday took the somewhat unusual step of fighting back against public criticism on social media.

A local resident made a 230-word post on a personal Facebook account allegeding that Flomaton Police did not respond at all to a trespassing call in his neighborhood. The FPD posted a screenshot of the personal post and their rebuttal.

“We have had a trespasser in our area around Mccurdy street to find out he is a dope head and was apparently under the influence,” the individual wrote in a post . “He was trespassing in people’s yard and they had run him off. Next door neighbor called me and I told her to call the police department. I went outside and did she the guy she was talking about earlier walking down the road. I assuming looking for something to steal. There is an abandoned house near me and the neighbor told them she heard he was staying in there. Dispatch said, they would check it if they thought they needed too. I stayed out last night for 2 hours.

“No officer ever come or rode by. No one. I had a neighbor out walking her dog so I followed her until she made it back home. Need some input on this guys. Called a council member and he said they were down to 3 officers And he would call the chief tomorrow. Well, tomorrow may be too late when someone is needing help. This is putting our community lives in jeopardy. This is not a game. If you have had an issue I need to know. Please comment if you have.”

On their Facebook account, Flomaton Police posted a screenshot of individual’s post, and they fired back with a dispatch log and a post of their own.

“We are strongly discouraged in the faith that is shown in our officers in this situation by the citizens,” Flomaton PD posted. They noted the officer took the call four seconds after it was given to him and was on scene on McCurdy Street, in the police jurisdiction but outside the town limits, in four minutes.

“…The officer spent 31 minutes in the area attempting to locate the suspicious subject. Please read all provided material, and maintain your faith in our department and the job we do,” police said.

The individual’s post was later removed or privacy settings were changed to prevent public viewing. The post had eight comments at the time Flomaton Police created a screenshot.

Comments

11 Responses to “Flomaton Police Fight Back Against Social Media Criticism”

  1. David Huie Green on August 15th, 2019 10:14 pm

    CONTEMPLATING:
    “How DARE you question your government overlords in public?! What, do you think you have a First Amendment Right or something?!”

    And they surely have the right to answer the question, and to question the characterization.

    David for Q & A

  2. Butch Lee on August 15th, 2019 9:23 am

    Kay Wagner I don’t think anyone was putting down the officers or anything like that. I think that if anything it was about wondering what was going on with no one responding. But assuming me and you buried a hatchet long time ago and I thought you got beyond this “family” issue. It wasn’t about politics or anything else like that. But you can explain that when you were mayor you got found guilty of violated the state ethics law and had to appear in front of the ethics board. Tell everyone about that. Let’s discuss that issue and then throw stones.

  3. Jenn on August 15th, 2019 8:25 am

    FPD is a great team! I’m a local here and these guys get the job done! We have a new officer or two, but the ladies in the community are breaking them in properly and they seem to learn quickly

  4. billy on August 14th, 2019 10:55 pm

    I Love you guys at the Flomaton Police Department. Keep up the good work!

  5. Kay Wagner on August 14th, 2019 6:22 pm

    Flomaton Police Department has dedicated officers working for very low salaries. They work long, hard shifts because of shortage of officers. They have big hearts, watch over Flomaton, put themselves in danger to keep us safe. They do things for the people of Flomaton you wouldn’t believe out of concern,kindness, dedication keeping us safe – at their personal potential of personal threat of danger. They work long hard hours. May God continue to watch over them. This complaint against FPD was really an old grievance against the present administrations. It’s a family issue that should have been left in the PAST – instead, dug up again to keep the hate, pouting and pot stirring continue. Sore losers!

  6. Fpd supporter on August 14th, 2019 5:34 pm

    Everyone always has something to say against law enforcement either they don’t do their job or they are to strict when doing it you will never be able to please everyone and posting a rebutle on social media why is that a big deal everything is done on the internet now a days some people need to stop being butt hurt and grow up!!!!!!!

  7. Sedition on August 14th, 2019 2:06 pm

    How DARE you question your government overlords in public?! What, do you think you have a First Amendment Right or something?!

  8. sam on August 14th, 2019 7:27 am

    social media is not the place for a police complaint. the chief, mayor and your city council rep should do.

  9. LaxMum on August 14th, 2019 6:27 am

    Nice job FPD. People today are so quick to “blame” the officers when they themselves haven’t seen the whole big picture.

  10. Claws on August 14th, 2019 5:09 am

    Go FPD

  11. Thom on August 14th, 2019 4:14 am

    Keep up the good work Flomaton PD. We have your back in Holt subdivision.