Roanoke Rapids Police Defend New Officer as viral Facebook backlash explodes over his appearance
ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. — A newly hired officer with the Roanoke Rapids Police Department is catching major heat online after the department introduced him on Facebook — not over his record or training, but over his appearance.
Officer Brandon Holcomb was officially welcomed by the department earlier this week, and the post quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons. More than 8,000 comments flooded the page, with users cracking jokes, questioning whether he’s “too slim” to be a cop, and some even making claims about how he might respond in a physical confrontation.
Despite the noise, the department stood by its new hire.
According to RRPD, Holcomb is a recent graduate of the 79th Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) class at Nash Community College, a program that requires rigorous physical, academic, and tactical standards before certification.
After the comments began piling up, Police Chief Lawrence Wiggins issued a firm statement defending the young officer and calling out the online ridicule.
Chief Wiggins described Holcomb’s hiring as “a proud moment in the life of a young man who has overcome countless personal obstacles to earn that moment.” While the chief did not go into detail about those obstacles, he emphasized that he has personally observed Holcomb’s resilience and professionalism.
“I have personally observed Officer Holcomb and his ability to deal with adversity and uncertainty,” Wiggins said.
“This achievement is a celebration of a young man from Roanoke Rapids stepping up to serve in the community where he was raised.”
The chief added that he has “full faith and confidence” in Holcomb’s ability to learn, adapt, problem-solve, and build a successful career with RRPD — regardless of social media chatter.
For now, RRPD appears unmoved by the backlash and focused on backing its officer.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT FROM CHIEF WIGGINS BELOW:
