Bucks County Newspaper Under Fire for Political Cartoon

A political cartoon published in the Sunday edition of the Bucks County Courier Times has caused an uproar among local law enforcement officers and their families.

The cartoon, drawn by a nationally-syndicated political cartoonist, depicts an image of Santa surrounded by children saying “keep us safe from police.”

The cartoon has incensed local police union leaders.

“”There is a special place in hell for you miserable parasites in the media who seek to exploit violence and hatred in order to sell advertisements,” Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5 President John McNesby wrote in a letter to the publication, which was then posted on the organization’s Facebook page.

The union is using social media to encourage readers to unsubscribe and lodge a complaint.

“You owe a public apology to every law enforcement officer and their families,” McNesby’s letter said. “Rest assured that this letter will be distributed to as many residents and businesses in Bucks County as we are able to reach. Here’s wishing you a bankrupt New Year.”

The newspaper responded to the criticism with a statement Thursday, saying the cartoon was not “intended to indict the law enforcement community.”

“If we had recognized prior to publication that the cartoon would have caused unintended offense, our editors would have selected a different one for Sunday’s newspaper. Editing a newspaper is not easy and we don’t always get it right,” the publication said in its response.