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Man No Longer Police Officer After Racially Charged Video
Source: Associated Press
Man No Longer Police Officer After Racially Charged Video
By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Feb 25, 2016, 5:30 PM ET
A police department announced Thursday that a patrolman no longer works for a northwest Missouri city after appearing in a racially charged music video wearing his uniform and carrying a "cops lives matter" sign.
St. Joseph police spokesman Capt. Jeff Wilson offered no details about whether Zackary Craft was fired or resigned. Wilson, in an email, directed questions to the city attorney's office. City attorney Bryan Carter said the city cannot comment on personnel matters.
Wilson said earlier that Craft had been placed on unpaid leave pending a due-process hearing and that the department didn't condone the video called "Before This Bomb Blows Up (Racism Goes Both Ways)" by Josh Smith, a white rapper from the Kansas City suburb of Independence who performs as J.Smitty. The sign is a reference to the Black Lives Matter movement that has focused attention on the killing of blacks by police.
Craft's attorney, Morgan Roach, didn't immediately return a phone message or email seeking comment. He said earlier that Craft allowed himself to be filmed "without knowing the words, content, or context" and was "appalled" when he saw the video.
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By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Feb 25, 2016, 5:30 PM ET
A police department announced Thursday that a patrolman no longer works for a northwest Missouri city after appearing in a racially charged music video wearing his uniform and carrying a "cops lives matter" sign.
St. Joseph police spokesman Capt. Jeff Wilson offered no details about whether Zackary Craft was fired or resigned. Wilson, in an email, directed questions to the city attorney's office. City attorney Bryan Carter said the city cannot comment on personnel matters.
Wilson said earlier that Craft had been placed on unpaid leave pending a due-process hearing and that the department didn't condone the video called "Before This Bomb Blows Up (Racism Goes Both Ways)" by Josh Smith, a white rapper from the Kansas City suburb of Independence who performs as J.Smitty. The sign is a reference to the Black Lives Matter movement that has focused attention on the killing of blacks by police.
Craft's attorney, Morgan Roach, didn't immediately return a phone message or email seeking comment. He said earlier that Craft allowed himself to be filmed "without knowing the words, content, or context" and was "appalled" when he saw the video.
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/man-longer-police-officer-racially-charged-video-37198857