What's The 'Acorn Cop' Meme? The Trend And Viral Video Of A Cop Being Scared By An Acorn Explained

There are a bunch of memes right now that depict the police being scared of acorns. Why? It all started with a viral video of a Florida cop mistaking an acorn for a gunshot.

The video has spread across social media sites like Twitter / X and Reddit. Most people find the cop's reaction to the acorn insane, like, who would empty their clip and do three somersaults because of an acorn?

So, why are meme creators pinning cops against acorns in memes? Who was the original "acorn cop" and what happened to him? Let's explain.

What Is The 'Acorn Cop' Video?

The original video was posted to YouTube just a few days ago. It was taken in Florida and it shows a deputy firing shots after an acorn landed on the top of his patrol car. He screams, "Shots fired!" and then he jumps onto the ground, shooting at the car and the unarmed man inside it.

Who Is The 'Acorn Cop' And What Happened To Him?

The now infamous "acorn cop" is former Deputy Jesse Hernandez of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department. He's a "former Deputy" because he retired in December 2023 amidst the investigation against him regarding his unwarranted firearm use.

There's also a female cop in the video who responded to Hernandez's call to action. She's seen on the other side of the car, firing her own shots at the vehicle. Her name is Seargent Beth Roberts and she's still employed by the department.

What Are Some 'Acorn Cop' Meme Examples?

Ever since the video went viral, internet users have had a field day, posting memes that show an acorn and a cop pinned against each other in an epic battle.

There's a lot of potential with this meme because the idea of a trained police officer being scared of an acorn is too impossible not to find hilarious. Many people are portraying the cop as weak and the acorn as otherworldly strong. Some are using Wojak comics and others are using GIF captions to highlight the absurdity of the cop's reaction.

For the full history of Florida Deputy Mistakes Acorn For Gunshot, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.