L.A. police chief, union reject cop accused of groping a dead woman’s breasts
A Los Angeles police officer has been placed on leave for an investigation into accusations that he fondled a dead woman’s breasts on a call, the Los Angeles Times reports.
“There is an official investigation of this officer, who was caught on camera fondling a woman,” said LAPD spokesman Tony Im, The Washington Post reported.
The officer had been dispatched to a death investigation at a home, KABC reported, citing police sources. When his partner left the room, the officer began feeling the dead woman’s nipples and fondling her breasts, according to the station.
Police sources say he had shut off his bodycam before groping the woman’s body, then switched it back on, KABC reported.
The cameras, however, buffer two minutes of video each time they are reactivated, the Los Angeles Times reported.
A review of LAPD bodycam videos uncovered footage of the incident, according to the publication. It’s not clear when the incident took place.
The department placed the officer on paid leave, and began an investigation, BuzzFeed News reported. The officer’s name has not been released.
“We are going to look at all the evidence,” said chief LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein, according to the publication. “We’re going to review body-worn video. We are going to talk to witnesses.”
On Thursday, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said he was “disgusted” by the officer’s alleged behavior, KTLA reported.
“Let me first and foremost apologize to the family,” Moore said, according to the station. “I can’t imagine the pain that comes from losing a daughter, a 27-year-old woman, who we’re still investigating the circumstances of her death. But then to have that compounded by now reports of an allegation that an officer broke that trust..”
Moore said the department will “very aggressively pursue” any criminal charges against the officer, KTLA reported.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League said in a statement that the officer’s alleged behavior “has no place in law enforcement,” NBC News reported.
“If this allegation is true, then the behavior exhibited by this officer is not only wrong, but extremely disturbing, and does not align with the values we, as police officers, hold dear and these values include respect and reverence for the deceased,” the statement said.
Officials pledged the union will not assist the officer in his criminal defense if he’s charged, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Assistant Chief Robert Arcos called the recording “very disturbing,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 12:45 PM with the headline "L.A. police chief, union reject cop accused of groping a dead woman’s breasts."