Retired NYPD Officer Arrested Over Florida Mosque Expansion Threat

A retired NYPD officer living in Florida was arrested Monday after allegedly posting a social media message calling for the beheading of a Pinellas County commissioner who voted to approve an expansion of a local mosque.

Rodolfo Mienert, 68, of St. Petersburg, is accused of commenting on a Facebook post attacking Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott over his support for a land-use change involving the North Pinellas mosque.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Mienert called Scott a “Republican turncoat” and then wrote, “off with his head!”

Investigators said the comment was posted under the username “Rudy MineAllmine,” according to an affidavit obtained by News Outlet.

A booking photo of Rodolfo Mienert, 68, a retired NYPD officer arrested Nov. 2, 2026, after allegedly posting a message calling for the beheading of Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott. (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)

The account featured a profile image of Bugs Bunny holding a revolver. Its biography stated, “…if I pissed off a libtard today, I’m happy!! no further reply!!”

The account’s most recent post shared a campaign video featuring Scott along with the message: “DO NOT vote for this person, he voted FOR a mosque.”

Detectives traced the account’s IP address to Mienert, who later acknowledged that he was the account’s owner.

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A portrait of Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott, who voted last month to support a proposal allowing a local mosque to expand. (Photography provided courtesy of Pinellas County Communications Department)

Mienert told detectives that he is “very vocal and not afraid to share his opinion” on political matters. He said he described Scott as a “turncoat” because of the commissioner’s vote supporting the mosque expansion.

He also said he attended an Oct. 27 County Commission meeting where residents debated the mosque proposal at length.

During the meeting, Mienert said he had left New York for “beautiful Florida.” He argued that the mosque’s expanding footprint would harm the environment and worsen traffic.

Rodolfo Mienert speaks during a Pinellas County Commission meeting on Oct. 27, 2026, shortly before his arrest. He was among several residents who criticized the decision to approve the mosque expansion. (Pinellas County Commission)

Mienert was arrested on one felony count of making a written or electronic threat to kill. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in a Florida prison.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said in a statement that “threatening to cut off the head of a county commissioner because of his vote on a land issue is intolerable and we will strictly enforce the law against anyone who makes threats of this nature.”

Mienert retired from the New York Police Department as a sergeant after 22 years of service. He remained in the Pinellas County Jail, according to records reviewed by News Outlet, and was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon.