Busted on Facebook, Police Chief Gives Himself a Ticket

If you've ever wondered who polices the police, the answer is, apparently, random Facebook users. The Orlando Sentinel reports that a Florida police chief issued himself a parking ticket after a photo circulated on Facebook showing his SUV blocking a sidewalk at City Hall. “Groveland Police Department is handing out tickets to people who park their vehicles in their own driveway if they block a sidewalk," WESH quotes a Facebook post by concerned citizen David Bires. "But when the chief of police blocks a sidewalk it’s OK?” Within 24 hours of posting, Bires' complaint had been shared more than 300 times.

A sergeant told Groveland Police chief Melvin Tennyson about his botched parking job Wednesday. Tennyson says he was rushing for a meeting with a city manager when he parked at City Hall, Fox News reports. He says he thought he was far enough off the sidewalk. After seeing photographic proof, he issued himself a $45 ticket and paid the fine. The police department posted the receipt to Facebook as proof. "It's the right thing to do," Tennyson tells the Sentinel. "How can I have my officers write parking tickets and completely dismiss it?" (More parking ticket stories.)