Daijiworld Media Network – North Carolina

North Carolina, Sep 24: Brian Edwards, a detention officer with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, was terminated Monday after social media posts on his Bluesky account appeared to violate department policy and drew attention for their political content.

Edwards, who joined the sheriff’s office in 2022 after serving in a state prison, was placed on administrative leave on September 20 following posts including, “I am Antifa. And I will never comply with a fascist regime.” Other posts reportedly criticised former President Donald Trump, included a video of him performing “Old Man Trump,” and suggested extreme rhetoric.

The sheriff’s office said its investigation confirmed the posts violated both the agency’s Standards of Conduct and Speech, Expression and Social Networking policies. Sheriff Charles Blackwood emphasized that maintaining public trust is vital to the office’s mission of protecting and serving the community.

Edwards, a 2016 UNC-Pembroke political science graduate and former president of College Democrats, had been promoted to corporal earlier this year. He told WRAL that he disagrees with how the situation was handled but will not comment further.

The termination underscores the agency’s focus on upholding public trust, particularly amid heightened political scrutiny surrounding Antifa following recent national developments.