Cop could lose job after telling woman ‘We only kill Black people’
A Georgia cop was recorded making a tasteless joke about how police officers “only kill Black people” while trying to talk a woman out of her car, according to CNN. This is the United States in 2017.
The July 2016 exchange was captured on dashcam footage when a woman was hesitant to get out of her car so that Cobb County Police Lt. Greg Abbott could impound it.
While much of the conversation is inaudible, the most important portion can be understood clearly. It started when Abbott asked the woman to grab her cell phone from her lap
“I just don’t want to put my hands down,” she replied.”
“I’ve just seen way too many videos of cops…” she continues.
“But you’re not Black. Remember? We only kill Black people,” Abbott said. “Yeah. We only kill Black people, right? All the videos you’ve seen, have you seen (inaudible) people get killed?”
Abbott, a 27-year veteran of the force, now faces a likely dismissal following the release of the footage, first reported by WSB-TV.
“I’ve known Lt. Abbott for a number of years, and I’ve always perceived him to be an honorable man,” said Chief Mike Register. “He made a mistake. I don’t know what’s in his heart, but I certainly know what came out of his mouth. And, it’s inexcusable and we have to take appropriate action.”
An independent review recommended Register terminate Abbott for his offense. Abbott’s attorney suggests that a final decision shouldn’t be made until the full context of the conversation can be explored. But would that change much?
“In my opinion, I feel that no matter what context you try to take those comments in, the statements were inexcusable and inappropriate and they’re not indicative of the values that I’m trying to instill within the Abbot County Police Department and I believe that the county holds,” said Register.
“My staff’s worked hard. Men and women who wear the Abbott County uniform have worked hard. And, I think that we have done some great things here in the last few months. And, it’s sad to think that several seconds of video has the potential of tearing that apart.”