Tampa police officer fired after being caught on video dragging woman at Orient Road Jail, officials say
Watch: Tampa Cops Drag Woman To Jail, Later Fired
A Tampa Police Department officer is out of work after he said officers dragged a female suspect from his patrol car to the entrance to Orient Road Prison. The agency released body camera and surveillance footage of the incident. The cop was fired.
Tampa, Florida – A Tampa Police Department officer was fired after body cameras and surveillance video showed him dragging a woman during a prison appointment, officials said.
Gregory Damon, who has been with the department as a patrol officer since August 2016, was fired Tuesday after an incident occurred in November, according to TPD. It said it determined that it violated multiple policies when booking into Orient Road Jail.
“Professionalism is not only expected but demanded whenever our officers encounter members of the public, regardless of whether the arrestee is an uncooperative or unsavory reward.” Law Enforcement As public officials, we are bound by a higher standard.”
read: Tampa police chief resigns after video of badge flashing at golf cart stop
According to TPD, Damon was one of the officers who called the Tampa Family Health Center on 22nd Street on Nov. 17 that someone was sleeping outside their home and refused to leave. The woman was arrested by Damon and put in jail because she had received a warning for trespassing on the same property a month prior to the incident.
When they arrived at the prison, the woman refused to get out of her patrol car and enter the central reservation, according to the police station. I hear you screaming.
That’s when the video shows Damon grabbing her arm and dragging her from the car to the prison entrance, banging the door and urging deputies to help lift the woman off the ground. The woman used vulgar and obscene language, the agency said.
In a press release about the incident, TPD said, “Rather than remaining professional, Damon himself made rude and derogatory comments about the arrestee.
more: TPD Officer Accused of DUI Takes Leave
Tampa Police said the woman was not injured in the incident.
TPD officials said they revised their policy on treating uncooperative prisoners after a similar incident in 2013 in which uncooperative prisoners were held. They said the new policy would add specific language against drugs, which is “never a good practice.”
The correct procedure, according to the department, was to enlist the assistance of reservations staff to lift the person out of the vehicle, secure him in a restraint chair and roll him into the air intake.
The department was informed of the incident by the supervisor of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the county detention facility. rice field.
Previous: Video: Tampa Police Nearly Crashed Head-On with Wrong-Tailed Vehicle on Selmon Highway
After reviewing videos of the incident and interviewing Damon, they decided to fire the officers, officials said.
“This former officer’s behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in this department. As a result, we promptly launched an internal investigation, removed him from office, and ultimately terminated his employment.” .
During the incident, TPD said it discovered Damon had violated policies related to prisoner searches, transportation, and reservations. Courtesy to the public; reporting reactions to resistance. Treatment of persons in custody; and more.