The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating reports that its officers were sharing an offensive image that mocked George Floyd’s death, allegedly a photo of Floyd’s face with a Valentine’s Day card style caption that said “You take my breath away.”

Floyd died in May 2020 after he was arrested and Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for a total of 8 minutes and 46 seconds; 2 minutes and 53 seconds of this was after Floyd was unconscious and non-responsive. Chauvin and the other three Minneapolis Police Department officers who arrested Floyd have all been fired and are awaiting trial later this year. Floyd’s death was captured by multiple cell phone cameras and the footage of Floyd calling for help and then going quiet as he died sparked outrage and protests around the country last summer, including in Los Angeles.

The LAPD acknowledged the troubling reports in a series of tweets Saturday evening, writing that they had “become aware of allegations” that the offensive image “was being passed around the department” and that the original post had been created by an LAPD employee.

“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,” the tweets continued. “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

A personnel complaint has been initiated and we are pursuing each allegation including interviewing the department member who brought it to our attention.

— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) February 14, 2021

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.

— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) February 14, 2021

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.

— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) February 14, 2021

“Our investigation is to determine the accuracy of the allegations while also reinforcing our zero tolerance for anything with racist views,” LAPD Chief Michel Moore told the Los Angeles Times, vowing that his officers would “find my wrath” if he confirms that they were circulating the image.

The post LAPD Investigating After Cops Accused of Sharing Valentine’s Day Image Mocking George Floyd’s Death: ‘You Take My Breath Away’ first appeared on Mediaite.

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