The Los Angeles Police Department has cleared an officer who was accused of sending an insensitive meme mocking George Floyd's murder. Sent on Valentine's Day, the meme featured a photograph of Floyd's face with the caption, “You take my breath away.” After the meme was shared internally, the police department launched an internal investigation.
"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. A personnel complaint has been initiated and we are pursuing each allegation including interviewing the department member who brought it to our attention," the department stated.
“I have no temperament or patience or allowance for them to remain in this organization,” the Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore added.
Five months later, an administrative trial board at the Los Angeles Police Department has exonerated the officer of any wrongdoing. An attorney representing the officer has declared that the decision “was absolutely correct in exonerating the officer based on the evidence of this case.”
“The officer found the meme offensive, he did not create the meme, nor did he distribute it beyond notifying a commander officer of its existence,” attorney Leslie Wilcox said in defense of her client.
“Both the commanding officer who received the officer’s communication, as well as the Assistant Chief who oversaw the investigation, agreed that the officer’s single notification of a commanding officer was in no way improper."
The officer accused of first sending the meme has not yet commented publicly on the matter.
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