An officer with the Raleigh Police Department has been placed on administrative leave after allegedly saying on social media that Juneteenth is a “made-up holiday.”
According to a post on July 18 from Facebook user Tucker Dominique, a social media account that appeared to belong to Officer D.C. Twiddy posted an Instagram story from June 19 claiming Juneteeth is a made-up holiday.
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“Today is my birthday and it’s been that way for 38 years,” Twiddy said in the post. “You’re welcome for the day off.”
Twiddy’s post has since been deleted.
It is not the first time Twiddy was involved in controversy while employed by the Raleigh Police Department. In 2016, he was accused of shooting and killing Akiel Denkins – a case that garnered national attention. Twiddy said Denkins was reaching for his gun while they were struggling.
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman did not file criminal charges in that case, saying that Twiddy acted in self-defense.
"When I saw what it said, and who said it, I was not surprised," Kerwin Pittman with Emancipate NC said.
Pittman, who helped two families who sued the police department after they performed no-knock raids on the wrong home in 2020, said that Twiddy was involved with both of those raids.
"I feel like the department doesn't listen, and this is someone we've been ringing the bell on for years," Pittman said.
In a statement provided to WRAL News, Police Chief Estella Patterson said Officer Twiddy has been employed with RPD since 2009 and that the department is aware of the post.
“We appreciate the many social media users who have brought this to our attention,” Patterson said. “Juneteenth is a federal and City of Raleigh holiday. The Raleigh Police Department celebrates the Juneteenth holiday and what it stands for.”
While there is no clear social media policy for the department posted online, we did find this section on conduct.
Where it says, “Police Department employees are frequently subjected to a higher level of public scrutiny…”
And, “For this reason, all employees must monitor their on-duty conduct, as well as their off-duty conduct, so as not to bring discredit upon the Department.”
Former Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison said it he made it clear to his deputies during his time in office about the responsibility they had in what they share on social media.
"Social media will get you fired," said Harrison. "It makes you look bad. That's something that that we teach each police officer because we deal with the public every day. We need their trust and we need them to understand that we're there to protect them."
Diana Powell with Justice Served NC said she wants action to be taken by the police department.
"It's like a slap to our faces," she said. "It is a disrespect to our community and to our people. We are struggling enough, and then knowing that there are officers out there like him."
Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of slaves in the United States. It was first celebrated in Texas at the end of the Civil War.
Patterson said the post is currently being investigated.
“The Raleigh Police Department is committed to instilling and building trust with the community we serve,” Patterson said. “We expect our employees to hold themselves to the highest standard of excellence that reflects favorably upon the organization, both on and off duty.”
Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson declined a WRAL News request for an interview.
WRAL News has reached out to Twiddy and the Facebook user who circulated Twiddy’s alleged post.