Retired NYPD Sergeant Charged With Threatening Florida Commissioner Over Mosque Vote

Rodolfo Mienert, a 68-year-old retired New York Police Department sergeant, was arrested in St. Petersburg on November 2, 2026. The charge stems from a social media comment directed at Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott. Mienert is accused of threatening the commissioner after Scott voted to expand a mosque in North Pinellas.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office alleges that Mienert posted a message on Facebook criticizing Scott's land-use decision. Under the username "Rudy MineAllmine," Mienert called Scott a "Republican turncoat" and wrote "off with his head!" Detectives linked the account to Mienert through its IP address. The profile featured an image of Bugs Bunny holding a revolver and a biography stating, ".if I pissed off a libtard today, I'm happy!! no further reply!!"

Mienert confirmed ownership of the account during questioning. He described himself as "very vocal and not afraid to share his opinion" on political matters. He told investigators that his comment was a reaction to what he viewed as a betrayal by his party. Mienert stated that he attended a County Commission meeting on October 27, 2026, where residents debated the mosque issue. During that session, he argued that the expansion would harm the local environment and increase traffic congestion.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri addressed the arrest in a statement. He characterized the threat to cut off a commissioner's head over a land vote as "intolerable." The sheriff said his department would strictly enforce the law against individuals who make similar threats. The department linked the specific phrasing in Mienert's post to the felony charge.

Mienert has been charged with one felony count of a written or electronic threat to kill. In Florida, this offense carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The retired officer served for 22 years before retiring as an NYPD sergeant. He is currently held in the Pinellas County Jail.

Court records show that Mienert is scheduled to appear in court on the afternoon of November 3, 2026. The case involves a dispute over local land use that has drawn attention to the proposed mosque expansion. Residents had previously expressed concerns about environmental changes and traffic patterns associated with the development.