The actions of the Dakota Access Pipeline protesters made law enforcement officers and their families fear for their safety, according to a North Dakota sheriff.
Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said that while some of the protesters were peaceful, others targeted officers by posting their home addresses over social media, reports KFYRTV.
Law enforcement officers from nine states left behind families to help cover the protests over the pipeline. To protect his officers, Laney warned them from wearing name tags.
“The fear that was put into our families, our spouse and children that are now home alone because mom or dad are away over here. And to find out your address has been published and their encouraging people to go take care of business,” said Laney.
The Standing Rock Sioux argued for months that the $3.7 billion pipeline could poison waterways, trample tribal lands and ruin their artifacts. (RELATED: Gov’t Finally Cracks Down On Dakota Pipeline Protesters And Orders Them To Vacate)
The tribe and their supporters protested for months, some of them turning violent. Eventually, the Army Corps of Engineers agreed to protester demands.
Some protesters attempted to threaten Laney by publishing his home address and date of birth over social media. Some tweets read “this is what i think of your bullshit,” followed by Laney’s address and date of birth.
“There are some pretty nasty things published about what they were going to do to us and your standing on a hill, ‘hey were coming soon and you’re going to die tomorrow,’ I heard that many times,” Laney explained.
Despite the threats, Laney said he and his officers have a duty to protect people.
“There is a mental game,” Laney said. “But at the same time too, we take that oath. That oath is something we live our life by.”
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