Oklahoma Chief Apologizes for Facebook Comment

April 18--CHANDLER -- A law enforcement official has apologized after his Facebook posting caused a minor stir on the Internet over the weekend.

Matthew Mattheyer, police chief in Chandler since 2010, told The Oklahoman on Tuesday that the posting on the social site was taken out of context and was not intended to be threatening.

"But I'm sorry I said it, and I wish I could take it back," Mattheyer said.

In the April 13 Facebook post, which is no longer viewable by the public, Mattheyer calls on an unidentified critic to "keep on talking your trash about the police on Facebook. Cause We all know you don't have the guts to talk it to our faces ... ." Mattheyer ends the post with "#gameonsuckers!!!!!"

Mattheyer said the remark was made in reaction to a Chandler resident, who had complained on Facebook of squad cars driving too fast down his residential road without emergency lights.

Mattheyer said he took the comment personally and that he prefers citizens bring their problems or complaints directly to his attention.

"Or if they don't want to talk to me they can talk to our city manager or the city council or the mayor -- at least give me a chance to solve the problem they're talking about," he said.

Mattheyer said he met with Chandler City Manager James Melson on Monday and that he is working to develop a social media policy for the department.

Melson did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

Copyright 2012 - The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City