A Lovejoy Police Department officer is off the streets for now after a viral video from a local Walmart showed a physical encounter between the officer and a man inside the store. The department says it has launched an administrative review and pulled the officer from patrol while investigators scrutinize the clip, which has been widely shared by shoppers and residents online.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the video appears to show the officer physically interacting with an individual whose hands appear to be behind his back. The outlet reports that the department has not released the officer’s name as it works to determine the full circumstances surrounding what happened.
What the department says
The department says its review will pull together “all available evidence, including video footage, incident reports, witness statements and whether the officer followed departmental policies and training,” according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Officials add they are committed to a fair, objective and timely investigation and will share more information when they are legally allowed to do so.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the department’s Professional Standards Unit. The City of Lovejoy website lists the police department’s phone number and email address, which residents can use to send in tips or footage to be included in the review.
Why agencies place officers on leave
Putting an officer on administrative leave during an internal review is a routine move that departments use to keep the process as neutral as possible while investigators gather facts. Local coverage of other Atlanta-area cases has noted that this kind of leave is intended to prevent conflicts while evidence is examined, according to recent reporting by WSB‑TV…