A viral Facebook tirade blasting an Ocean Township cop prompted the police chief to release the bodycam and set the record straight.

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A Facebook rant accusing a New Jersey police officer of acting like the “Gestapo” spread fast — and the police chief fired back with bodycam footage (scroll for video).

The post began circulating Sunday night, Nov. 23, on a local community Facebook page and made “several harsh accusations” against Ocean Township Patrolman Moller, Chief Michal J. Rogalski said. 

The claims were serious enough that he immediately ordered a full review of the incident, including interviews with involved officers, a review of CAD and incident documentation, and careful examination of the body-worn camera footage, the chief said.

The Facebook post, written in all caps, accused Moller of lacking compassion while responding to an injured deer. The author referenced his wife dragging the deer out of the roadway and claimed the officer “tells my wife & her girl friend to haul ass.” The post went on to describe Moller “screaming at me,” calling him a “cocky young cop,” and comparing him to the “Gestapo.” The post ended with: “WAKE UP OFFICER MOELLER!!!! U WORK FOR US KID!!! U AINT THE GESTAPO.”

The bodycam footage told a very different story:

Moller arrives at the scene to find a man and a woman with an injured young buck. The woman was holding the buck up by its antlers and told the officer they had been two cars behind when it was struck, and she believed the buck had a broken leg. The officer thanked them and took the buck's antlers. He dismissed them from the scene and said he'd take it from there. The man wished Moller a happy Thanksgiving, and the officer responded in kind.

The video shows the officer holding the buck by its antlers for nearly three minutes and trying to keep the animal calm while radioing for backup. He spoke softly to the deer throughout the encounter, saying, “I don't know buddy. I don't know if it’s just one of your legs, though I’m going to be honest with you,” and “It’s ok buddy.” When someone else approached from off camera, the officer again said they could leave and that the police had the situation under control.

The buck was bleeding from the mouth, and the officer explained on camera that he was holding the animal’s head up to keep it from folding and closing its airway. He suspected a broken neck and a less-than-favorable outcome.

Rogalski said he decided to release the footage so the public could see it for themselves. 

“For those who know Patrolman Moller, you know him as the kind of officer who would give you the shirt off his back, bring you a cup of coffee on a cold morning without being asked, or wear a donut costume on Halloween just to make neighborhood kids smile,” Rogalski said.

He called the comparison to the Gestapo “not only inaccurate” but “deeply offensive,” adding that “these words carry historical weight and should never be used casually, especially not toward a public servant responding to a difficult and emotional situation involving an injured animal.”

The chief encouraged residents to view the released bodycam video and “judge the interaction for themselves,” saying he is confident “the professionalism of Patrolman Moller will speak for itself.”

“We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and respectful communication with all members of our community,” Rogalski said. “If anyone has questions or concerns, my door is, and always will be open.”