Shawangunk Chief of Police Gerald Marlatt has come under fire for having a pro-Trump sign on his front lawn on Route 52 in Walker Valley.

The sign has sparked outcry from residents, who have voiced their complaints in Letters to the Editor in the Wallkill Valley Times and to the Shawangunk Town Board.

“He is blatantly displaying his camaraderie with the corrupt, treasonous, racist, fascist and misogynistic current occupant of the White House,” Dawn A. Deevy said in a Letter to the Editor as well as the Shawangunk Town Board. “It dismays me as the police are supposed to protect us and serve all of us.”

Some Democrats who complained about the sign claimed they would be equally as concerned if the sign was supporting Joe Biden.

“It’s not against the law, we understand that,” said Town of Shawangunk Democratic Party Chair Adrienne Gelfand-Perine. “But especially when you have somebody who’s being paid by the people directly we have to know he’s supporting everyone no matter what our political beliefs are.”

Others supported the sign as free speech, a freedom that is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

“As a veteran, I fully support everyone’s First Constitutional Amendment right to free speech,” said Ulster County Republican Committee Chairman Roger Rascoe.

Town of Shawangunk officials agreed that Marlatt has the right to have a Trump sign on his lawn.

“Legally there’s nothing saying that Chief Marlatt cannot support the candidate of his choice,” said Shawangunk Town Councilman Brian Amthor. “He has that right, as does every other citizen of this country.”

Marlatt clarified that his fiancé put up the sign. He was disappointed with how it was received by the public.

“I just think it’s a shame that somebody would infringe on another’s right to free speech,” he said. “Free speech is the bedrock of American democracy. Our founding fathers protected that sacred right with the First Amendment to the Constitution.”

Marlatt added that the sign had no foul language or imagery.

The sign has been removed from Marlatt’s front lawn.