A Georgia police officer has deleted all of his social media accounts after courting criticism for a controversial video posted to TikTok.
Nick Moore, a Snellville police officer, has found himself at the center of a social media storm after posting a clip to his k9hanes account in which he made a controversial joke about a woman giving birth in the back of his patrol car.
In the video, which has been saved and shared by other users on TikTok, Moore can be seen in uniform behind the wheel of what looks like a police vehicle.
“Prisoner: My Water Broke,” an on-screen caption reads. “Prisoner: You’re Going To Have To Deliver The Baby” it continues. Reacting to the caption, Moore then lip-syncs the words “Ain’t no way” to the camera.
According to Fox 5, the since-deleted video had racked up four million views prior to its removal.
However, it has since become the source of strong criticism from other TikTok users, including thatdaneshguy, who posted his own edited version of the video condemning Moore’s joke.
“You’re making tasteless jokes,” the TikToker said in the clip. “You’re a police officer. You’re supposed to act professional. You’re supposed to protect and serve.”
“These types of jokes are not okay,” he adds. “This is exactly why people don’t trust police officers.” The clip can be viewed here.
The video response has been viewed 492,000 times, with many expressing their disgust with Moore’s attempt at a joke.
“Imagine making a joke about denying someone human rights,” Audrey Elizabeth Hun wrote. “A pregnant woman at that.” Ashleyd added: “I’d prefer they not ‘joke’ about purposefully mishandling emergency situations.”
Fox 5 says that Moore removed the video not long after thatdaneshguy posted his rebuke.
However, others have since emerged on TikTok to take the police officer to task over his remarks. They include Jessica Kent, a prison reform advocate, who gave birth on her own locked up in a prison cell nine years ago.
Posting her reaction to TikTok under the handle jesken12, Kent explained “My trauma is for life.”
“There’s no joke here,” she said. “It’s not funny. I have gone through this. I have spoken to and worked with women who have also gone through this.”
“The stress of being arrested can cause pre-term labor,” she added. “The stress of being arrested can cause harm to that unborn child. This is not okay.”
Her video can be viewed here.
In a statement issued to Fox 5, Snellville Police Chief Greg Perry defended Moore, stating that he made the video “while he was off-duty and on his personal social media account.”
Perry added that there was “no requirement” for him to seek supervisor approval and nothing in the original post identified Snellville Police Department or the City of Snellville.
“The officer had no intent to offend anyone, and removed the video once he realized that his attempt at humor was taken in a way not intended,” he added. “The officer has always properly rendered aid to those in need, and we completely trust that he will continue to protect our community.”
Perry’s claims have been rejected by thatdaneshguy though, who posted a video response arguing that “he was in a police car” and “he was in a uniform.”
“His entire account is about being a police officer and it’s all jokes about his job,” he added. “It’s so ridiculous.”
His response can be viewed here.
Newsweek has contacted Snellville Police for comment.
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