“You take my breath away.” Los Angeles police have launched an internal investigation after reports surfaced that officers shared a Valentine’s Day photo of George Floyd with the caption.
The Los Angeles Police Department is also investigating whether the image, reported by the Los Angeles Times, was created by a police officer.
“At this time the department has not identified or identified any actual postings in the workplace that were in fact our department employees who created this image,” The police department tweeted Saturday.
Police did not respond to a request for further details Sunday.
Floyd, a black man, died on May 25, when former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, was stabbed in the neck for more than eight minutes. His death rekindled a wave of police accountability and racial justice in the U.S., as well as a wave of violent and destructive action in some cities.
Three other officers were also charged in Floyd’s death.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michelle Moore told the Times that an officer has filed a complaint about the picture and will be interviewed by officers on Monday.
“Our investigation is to determine the accuracy of the allegations, while also strengthening our zero tolerance for anything with racist views,” Moore told the newspaper.
“People will see my resentment if the allegations are upheld,” Moore added.
It was not immediately clear where the photo was allegedly shared or how many officers may have been circulating on it. If the complaint is confirmed, the department said, “Any employee or supervisor is instructed to take possession and identify those present there. The department will have zero tolerance for such behavior.”
