Prince George's County officer under investigation over Charlie Kirk posts
Screenshots of posts tied to officer Adam Molake pushed Prince George’s County police into an internal probe, with discipline possible if the comments broke policy.
Prince George’s County police said they were investigating officer Adam Molake after screenshots of posts about Charlie Kirk’s death circulated online Thursday evening. The department said it was aware of the post and had started an internal investigation.
The case quickly became more than a personnel matter because it touched the basic question of whether a county police officer’s online behavior can erode public trust. In Prince George’s County, where residents regularly weigh police conduct against calls for accountability, the department’s response will be judged not only on whether the posts are verified, but on whether its discipline is consistent with the standards officers are expected to follow.
A September 13 update from DC News Now described the matter as an internal investigation after screenshots of statements following Kirk’s death. That followed an earlier report on September 11 that identified Molake by name and said the department had already opened a review. The posts were already drawing attention by Thursday evening, when screenshots began circulating online.
The Prince George’s County case also landed in the middle of a wider wave of scrutiny for public employees who commented online about Kirk’s killing. FireRescue1 reported on September 12 that agencies in Nashville, New Orleans, Toledo and Prince George’s County launched investigations and placed employees on leave after online comments about Kirk’s death. Police1 also published a roundup of officers under investigation after social-media posts about the killing, showing that the issue had spread well beyond one department or one county.
In Maryland, the comments carried added sensitivity because WBAL-TV reported that leaders across the state condemned Kirk’s killing. That broader reaction gave the Prince George’s County inquiry an added public-relations burden: any post viewed as mocking, celebratory or inflammatory could be read as falling short of the professionalism expected from an officer wearing the county badge.
No final discipline had been reported in the available coverage, leaving the matter in the investigative stage. If the posts are found to violate department rules on public speech, conduct unbecoming or online activity, possible consequences could range from internal discipline to suspension or further action. For Prince George’s County police, the outcome will show whether the department can police its own ranks when the conduct at issue comes from inside the force.
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