LAPD Investigating After Cops Accused of Sharing Valentine’s Day Image Mocking George Floyd’s Death: ‘You Take My Breath Away’

Sarah RumpfFeb 14th, 2021, 9:08 pm
 
LAPD Los Angeles Police Department

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images.

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.”

“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.

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Sarah Rumpf - Contributing Editor

Sarah Rumpf joined Mediaite in 2020 and is a Contributing Editor focusing on politics, law, and the media. A native Floridian, Sarah attended the University of Florida, graduating with a double major in Political Science and German, and earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the UF College of Law. Sarah's writing has been featured at National Review, The Daily Beast, Reason, Law&Crime, Independent Journal Review, Texas Monthly, The Capitolist, Breitbart Texas, Townhall, RedState, The Orlando Sentinel, and the Austin-American Statesman, and her political commentary has led to appearances on television, radio, and podcast programs across the globe. Follow Sarah on Threads, Twitter, and Bluesky.