Two Montgomery County Homeland Security Officers were reassigned from their positions after they barred local library patrons from viewing Internet porn last week.
The two officers, whose identity was not disclosed, had overstepped their authority, Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer Bruce Romer told the Washington Post today.
The men, who worked for the county’s Homeland Security Department, had walked into the Little Falls Library in Bethesda on Feb. 9 and announced that the viewing of Internet porn was prohibited.
One patron who was apparently viewing online porn, was asked to step outside by one of the officers, according to a witness. But even after a police officer appeared and discussed the matter with those involved, no one was arrested or cited.
Romer said the two officers erroneously believed they were charged with enforcing the county’s sexual harassment policy. Romer called the incident “regrettable” and “unfortunate.”
The county’s sexual harassment policy bans the “display of offensive or obscene printed or visual material” in a county workplace like the county-run library. But since the library is also a public area, free speech guarantees in the U.S. Constitution would supersede the regulations, Romer admitted.
He added that the two security officers will be trained to better understand the harassment policy and residents’ First Amendment rights.
The newspaper noted that the libraries in the area permit the viewing of porn, so long as the material is not offend others. To ensure that, libraries install a privacy screen.
