SEPTA to suspend two transit police sergeants for posts supporting Jan. 6 pro-Trump riot

Two SEPTA Transit Police sergeants will be suspended without pay for social media posts that seemed to endorse the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, the agency said Wednesday.

The two were among seven transit officers who attended a “Save America” rally before the insurrection, at which former President Donald Trump urged supporters to dissuade Congress from ratifying President Joe Biden’s victory.

“By endorsing the storming of the Capitol, they were condoning criminal activity, which is unacceptable for any police officer,” SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said. “Their support of illegal behavior is in direct opposition of the department’s ethos and mission.”

After a two-month internal affairs investigation involving examination of video and extensive interviews, SEPTA determined that none of its officers participated in the violent breach of the Capitol or any other criminal conduct that day.

The Police Review Board found that the sergeants “acted irresponsibly and displayed poor judgment” in the posts. Department policy prohibits “conduct unbecoming” a SEPTA employee or actions that could cast the transit agency in a negative light.

The two sergeants each will be suspended without pay for three days, SEPTA said. It did not name the officers, who have the right to appeal the decision within 10 days. The suspensions will not take effect until the appeals process is over, Busch said. SEPTA had not received any notice of appeal as of Wednesday afternoon, he said.

According to the department’s collective bargaining agreement, disciplined officers’ names cannot be released to the public unless they are fired, Transit Police Chief Tom Nestel has said. SEPTA declined to release a copy of the investigation report or the precise wording of the social media posts.