The Grosse Pointe Park Police Department has placed five officers on unpaid leave after evidence surfaced that they recorded humiliating and demeaning videos of black men.
The duration of the suspensions is unknown, but they could last as long as 60 days, according to the Motor City Muckracker. The officers must also attend sensitivity training.
The Muckracker’s Steve Neavling first reported that Grosse Pointe Park Police had recorded cell phone videos in which they instructed black pedestrians to make monkey noises and faces. The videos and images were texted to friends, accompanied by racist captions.
Neavling received the videos from an unnamed source. He has stopped publishing the videos at the request of Michael Scipio, one of black men who was filmed. Scipio felt humiliated by the published content, and is considering legal action against the police department.
In a previous interview with The Daily Caller, Neavling said the unpublished content was equally demeaning. (RELATED: Police force black men to act like chimps, film it)
“It’s a lot of the same kind of stuff where black men are asked to sing or make noises that are chimp-like that [the officers] wanted them to make,” he told The Daily Caller. “It’s these humiliating things that they are having them do.”
Police Chief Dave Hiller could not be reached for comment, but did make a public statement apologizing for the videos and promising swift corrective measures.
“I am deeply disappointed by the actions of the officers involved in this incident,” said Hiller in a public statement. “This type of behavior is unacceptable by any standard and will not be tolerated by the department. I apologize to Mr. Michael Sipio, the people of Grosse Pointe Park and everyone who has been touched by this disturbing incident for the actions of these officers. We are holding those responsible accountable and taking steps to insure this kind of incident will never happen again.”