Voice appearing to be Philadelphia police officer responds to taunt
http://www.fox29.com/news/206931486-story
The whole video lasts just 44 seconds. We've blurred the faces of the officers because we've not been able to identify them for their side of the story. However, the audio-- difficult as it may be to hear-- tells the story. A FOX 29 viewer sent us the video.
The video shows two white Philadelphia police officers looking for information from several young black men on a city street corner. The conversation quickly goes sideways and the cops order the men to disperse.
On the video, one of the black men is heard to saying, "Come on y'all, they might be gonna shoot us."
Voice appearing to be Philadelphia police officer responds to taunt
A voice that appears to be one of the officers replies: "Not all of you-- just one." The camera turns so you can't see the person.
FOX 29 caught up with Police Commissioner Richard Ross at a Hero Thrill Show preview event and played him the video.
"There's no doubt the context is difficult to deny. We’ve going to have to figure out who made that comment and obviously it's highly inappropriate," said Commissioner Ross.
Consider the state of relations between police and the African-American community. On one hand, incidents in Tulsa and now Charlotte in which cops kill men who may or not be an actual threat. On the other, right here in Philadelphia, an officer targeted-- ambushed-- by a black man in January. And a police sergeant released from the hospital days after being ambushed by a black man in a shooting rampage last Friday night.
There is frustration on both sides.
"Oh, it's tough. We're under-manned, under equipped. The attitude toward police has changed everywhere around the country. We've seen that," said John McNesby, with the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police.