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Retired NYPD cop allegedly threatened to behead Fla. pol over mosque support: ‘Off with his head’
A retired New York police officer in Florida was arrested after allegedly posting a threat against a county commissioner who supported a mosque’s expansion. The case highlights the criminal consequences of making written threats against elected officials over their decisions.
Police say 68-year-old Rodolo Mienert’s Facebook account posted “off with his head” about Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott, alongside criticism of Scott’s mosque vote; investigators traced the account to Mienert, who reportedly confirmed it was his. Mienert, who served 22 years with the NYPD, had also raised traffic and environmental concerns at a commission meeting. He was charged with a felony electronic threat to kill, which carries a possible sentence of up to 15 years.
In short
- Retired NYPD officer Rodolo Mienert was arrested over an alleged online threat.
- The threat followed Commissioner Brian Scott’s support for a mosque expansion.
- Mienert faces a felony charge carrying up to 15 years in prison.
Explained simply
Pinellas County is in Florida, and its county commission makes decisions about local planning, development and public services. Mosque expansions, like other building projects, may require the commission’s approval and can prompt debate among residents about their effects on the surrounding area.
Brian Scott is a member of the county commission. Rodolo Mienert is a retired New York City police officer who lives in Florida. Written threats against public officials can be investigated as crimes, separate from lawful criticism of their decisions; the charge described in this case is a felony under Florida law.