LAPD investigating alleged Valentine’s Day photo mocking George Floyd shared by cops

The Los Angeles Police Division introduced it’s presently wanting into reviews that its officers allegedly circulated a Valentine’s Day picture that mocked George Floyd’s demise.

The put up allegedly had Floyd’s face and had the caption “You are taking my breath away,” in response to a spokesman for the LAPD. In a series of tweets Sunday, the LAPD mentioned it was conscious of the reported picture and accusations that it was approved by “a division worker.”

“A personnel criticism has been initiated and we’re pursuing every allegation, together with interviewing the division member who introduced it to our consideration,” the division tweeted.

The LAPD mentioned it hasn’t recognized the precise postings or if it was created by one in every of their workers as of Sunday, nevertheless it has requested administrators to look their worksites for extra data.

“If discovered any worker or supervisor is directed to take possession and establish these current. The Division could have zero tolerance for this sort of habits,” LAPD mentioned in an announcement.

Ben Crump, an legal professional who represents Floyd’s household, demanded that an apology be issued to the household and that everybody who was concerned within the alleged meme be held accountable.

“That is past insult on high of harm — it’s harm on high of demise,” he mentioned in an announcement on Monday. “The kind of callousness and cruelty inside an individual’s soul wanted to do one thing like this evades comprehension — and is indicative of a a lot bigger drawback inside the tradition of the LAPD.”

Floyd was killed on Memorial Day 2020 after Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, handcuffed Floyd, positioned him face-first into the road on the road, and put his knee on his neck for a number of minutes throughout an arrest.

A number of cameras filmed the incident and confirmed Floyd cry out, “I am unable to breathe,” earlier than going lifeless.

Floyd’s demise reignited requires police reform and racial justice and sparked 1000’s of protests throughout the nation over the summer season.

Chauvin was fired from the pressure and charged with second-degree homicide and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s demise. His trial is slated to start subsequent month.

Three different officers concerned within the incident, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, have been additionally fired. They have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree homicide and manslaughter, and their joint trial is slated for the summer season.