Elmer police lieutenant caught in Twitter fight resigns

ELMER – Police Lt. Steven Felice resigned his position effective Friday in face of a departmental review into a series of "inappropriate posts" the officer made recently on Twitter, according to a joint statement from Salem County Prosecutor John T. Lenahan and Elmer police Chief Patrick Bryan.

Lenahan said the resignation was submitted by letter on Thursday.

Felice declined to comment.

"During the course of the internal affairs investigation, Lieutenant Felice provided me with his resignation and I have honored his request to terminate his employment with the Elmer Police Department," Bryan stated.

Elmer cop investigated over alleged tweets

Lenahan said the resignation came before an internal administrative review by Bryan could be completed. The Prosecutor's Office would have reviewed the department's finding had the review been completed, he said.

"The resignation of Lieutenant Felice closes the book on this unfortunate matter," Lenahan stated.

The internal review was started over Felice tweeting to U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a vocal critic of President Trump and his administration. The tweet read: “Your gonna get your a-- beat. Watch your back scumbag. Watch your back at every turn.”

That alleged tweet and others that some people found offensive were circulated on Twitter by various users in apparent screenshots taken of Felice's account.

Felice has deleted his Twitter account.

Felice spent 27 years in law enforcement, including with the Millville Police Department. Elmer hired him in 2007.

Borough Council President Lewis Schneider, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, declined comment.

The Washington, D.C., Capitol Police contacted Bryan and the Prosecutor's Office about the tweet to Moulton. But the congressman did not file a complaint with Capitol Police, Bryan and Moulton said.

Joseph P. Smith; (856) 563-5252; jsmith@gannettnj.com