ELMER — A police lieutenant being investigated for tweeting at a Massachusetts congressman to “watch your back at every turn” was previously accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend.
In this January 2014 NJ Advance Media file photo, Steven J. Felice, left, is sworn in after he was promoted to lieutenant with the Elmer Police Department after previously serving as a detective sergeant.
Steven Felice, who has been taken off the schedule in Elmer while an internal review of his actions takes place, joined the Elmer Police Department in 2007. Prior to that, he worked as an officer in Millville until he resigned in 2006 — which was part of a plea deal made with the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office after he was charged for allegedly threatening to kill and striking his then girlfriend.
Felice did not return a request for comment by telephone or email.
“In his 10 years of employment here he does have a clean record,” said Chief Patrick Bryan Jr. of Elmer Police Department, noting that Felice was hired in 2007.
Bryan explained that once the internal review has been completed, it will be decided whether Felice be suspended with out without pay. According to state records, Felice’s salary is $49,140.
The Twitter account Felice used has since been deleted but, according to the Boston Globe, Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton’s office contacted capitol police after Felice tweeted at the lawmaker that he is a “scumbag” and to “watch your back at every turn” on Feb. 15. Moulton is a Democratic congressman and a veteran who served in Iraq.
In Felice’s profile picture, he appeared in his police uniform.
According to Bryan, he was notified by U.S. Capitol Police about the tweet Thursday and they turned the investigation over to the Elmer Police Department.
Before deleting the account, Felice tweeted at news organizations that his account was hacked.
Toughguy McOnline-Troll decides to attack USMC captain and Iraq War veteran @sethmoulton … 4/ pic.twitter.com/Wv5MJNd5pu
— Craig Harrington (@Craigipedia) February 16, 2017
Prior to the tweet directed at Moulton, however, Felice directed tweets at Democrats and journalists — as well as tweets being pro President Donald Trump.
Some of the tweets include calling CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather a “scumbag liar,” warning ABC Nightline host Terry Moran to “watch his back” and accusing Hillary Clinton of being”corrupt.”
Bryan said the department does not have a social media policy, as to not infringe on the officers’ First Amendment rights, but the chief added that its understood that officers must remain professional online and that he does not condone Felice’s actions.
While employed as a police officer in Millville, he was suspended without pay in September 2004 after being charged with third-degree terroristic threats against his girlfriend at the time. During an argument on Aug. 20, 2004, Felice allegedly threatened to kill her and struck her in the face several times while they were parked in his car near a Vineland intersection.
In the June 28, 2006 plea deal, Felice agreed to resign from the department and not seek employment in Millville again. He also agreed to not seek lost wages from the suspension, have no contact with the victim and attend an anger management program. Once the program was completed, the charges could then be dropped.
With the plea deal, Felice did not have to claim whether he was guilty or not guilty.
Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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