SPD officers accuse veteran cop of excessive force
Aug 3, 2012, 4:22 PM | Updated: Aug 4, 2012, 9:54 am
The Seattle Police Department has placed a veteran officer on paid administrative leave as they investigate an accusation of excessive force. (MyNorthwest.com Photo/File)
(MyNorthwest.com Photo/File)
The Seattle Police Department has placed a veteran officer on paid administrative leave as they investigate an accusation of excessive force.
The alleged incident occurred on Thursday evening when officers responded to the report of a drive-by pellet gun shooting in the 3700 block of South Othello Street.
According to other officers at the scene, who reported the incident to their immediate superior, the officer in question got into an altercation with a bystander at the scene.
“The officers who were on the scene saw something that they disagreed with,” said Sergeant Sean Whitcomb. “(They) didn’t like the use of force, didn’t like the unprofessionalism, had zero tolerance for it and immediately reported it to their supervisor.”
The officer under investigation is a 19-year veteran of the force, Sgt. Whitcomb said.
After command staff were notified of the incident, the officer was relieved of duty and sent home. He remains on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.
The department has asked that anyone with information regarding the incident contact the Office of Professional Accountability Investigator Yvonne Tovar directly, at 206-684-8792.
