The Walker County Sheriff’s Office has deactivated its Facebook page, a decision Sheriff Nick Smith said he made to curb the increasing negativity the page was attracting. The announcement was shared via the sheriff’s office’s app on Friday.
According to Sheriff Smith, the page initially served as a platform for sharing real-time updates and improving communication with the public. However, he stated that the page had become a breeding ground for “hate, negativity, and vitriol,” prompting the decision to remove it.
“Most people enjoyed and appreciated the information, but as with anything else controlled by people, our unique way of providing information to the masses became a point of contention for people that wanted to find an issue with, well, anything really,” Smith said.
According to WTVM 13, the deactivation follows ongoing controversy within the department. Recently, two deputies were indicted in connection with the mistreatment of inmate Tony Mitchell. Additionally, ten former correctional officers have pleaded guilty to charges related to the incident, with further indictments expected. Smith has denied knowledge of the mistreatment that occurred, citing the jail’s extensive camera system and urging the public to withhold judgment until investigations are complete.
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In his statement, Smith announced that inmate mugshots have also been removed from the sheriff’s office app due to the negative attention they received when shared on Facebook. He noted that mugshots were sometimes used to generate views while subjects faced ridicule.
“This is strictly because of the negative attention they received when shared on Facebook,” said Smith. “We share those pictures to inform people, and it’s unfortunate that some people use those pictures to illicit views on their page, and then allow people to make fun of the way some inmates look. While I understand this is just people expressing their First Amendment right, it’s hateful, and we won’t be contributing to it any longer. And I’ll be honest, there was a time when I didn’t care about things like that, but as time passes, things change, and humiliation, even if it’s unintentional, isn’t something we’re going to participate in.”
Smith emphasized that despite the removal of the Facebook page, the department remains committed to keeping the public informed via its app, which he encouraged residents to download.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
