Smyth wanted to move family, keep a gun at home over social media backlash, inquiry told

The inquiry into the death of Donald Dunphycontinued Friday with testimony from Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Superintendent JasonSheppardaboutconcerns for Const. Joe Smyth'swell-being following the shooting.

Smyth told senior officials at the RNC he was "gettingeaten alive" on social media, Sheppard said, and wanted someone from the RNC to speak to the media and defend him.

Smythwas so worried by negative comments, he wanted to move his family to his in-law's and keep a gun at his home a request which was denied.

"I read the social media and Ididn't perceive it to be a threat,and Itold him he wasn't going to be armed at home," Sheppard said.

"Irecommended that he stay off social media, that he take some time off... He wanted to go back to work and I was firm that he was going to be non-operational until we had a conclusion."

Smyth shot and killed Don Dunphy, an injured worker who had been active on Twitter, at Dunphy's Mitchells Brook home in April 2015. Smyth was following up on a request from the office of then premier Paul Davis.

Testifying at the inquiry in January, Smythsaid his conversation with Dunphyquickly escalated and that he drew his firearm when he saw Dunphy point a rifle at him.

Smyth also told the inquiry that he felt enormous stress because of the social media backlash over the incident. Some commentators on Twitter have gone so far as to describe Smyth as a "hitman," and have used the hashtag #killed4atweet to describe the incident.

Desk position not seen as meaningful

Sheppard testified that Smythtook a few mandatory days off following the incident, butwanted to return to work after completing thosedays.

When he got back to work, Smythwasassigned a desk, apositionwhich Sheppard said Smythdidn't find meaningful.

"He wanted to be an active police officer," Sheppard said.

In an attempt to protect him from the "limelight," while also giving him the opportunity to contribute to the constabulary, Sheppard saidhewanted Smyth in an administrative rolecontainedwithin the police station.

Sheppardtold the inquiry it would have been negligent to put Smyth in a situation where he might use force, while he was under investigation for using force.

"I'm not putting Const.Smyth, as much as he might want to, I'm not putting him in a position where he's going to be in any position to find himself in a second situation like the first one," Sheppard said.

Senior officials in the RNC recommended Smythtake leave from work after he brought forth examples ofthe social media attention he was receiving,and thathe seek help under the Employee Assistance Program.