A MEMBER of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) allegedly posted a picture of George Floyd as part of a mock Valentine’s Day card that included the caption “you take my breath away.”
The LAPD has launched an investigation into the alleged incident.
According to journalist Jasmyne Cannick, who was shown an internal LAPD email, a member of staff shared the post on social media.
The email goes on to state that LAPD Chief Michel Moore has been left disgusted by the post, which allegedly features a picture of Floyd and the words “you take my breath” in an ill-advised and deeply offensive attempt at St Valentine’s Day humour.
Floyd, 46, died on back May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota after a police officer kneeled on his neck during an arrest.
Video footage captured the moment disgraced officer Derek Chauvin kept a knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes all while Floyd repeatedly told the cop “I can’t breathe.”
The killing sparked a wave of protests across the US with millions gathering in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and an end to police brutality.
An investigation into the alleged Valentines image is ongoing, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that LAPD Chief Moore has warned that if the officers circulating the offending image are found “people will find my wrath."
So someone in the LAPD posted a photo of George Floyd on social media with the caption, “you take my breathe away” in a Valentine format.
Really? This doesn’t help the situation. I’m curious as to the division and rank of the person who made the post. Holla. pic.twitter.com/bclHH8U2Di— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) February 14, 2021
The LAPD has also released a lengthy thread on Twitter, which read: "The Department has become aware of allegations that an image was being passed around the department and this image was in the workplace."
"There are also allegations that the post with the image was authored by a department employee," it continued. "A personnel complaint has been initiated and we are pursuing each allegation including interviewing the department member who brought it to our attention.
"At this point the Department has not identified any actual postings in the workplace or identified that it was in fact our department employee who created the image. We have raised the apparent existence of the image and directed commands to survey the worksites for it.
"If found any employee or supervisor is directed to take possession and identify those present. The Department will have zero tolerance for this type of behavior."
The Department has become aware of allegations that an image was being passed around the department and this image was in the workplace. There are also allegations that the post with the image was authored by a department employee.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) February 14, 2021
According to the leaked email from Captain Jay Mastick, Moore was left "disgusted" by the post and ordered a formal complaint be made.
The email reminded urged staff to "maintain your professionalism and use judicious restraint while posting online," and said that "messages with inappropriate content may also result in discipline.”
It has not been specified what the name or rank of the LAPD staffer was that shared the alleged post.
