A Louisiana sheriff officer uploaded a video to TikTok, on May 27, saying that the officers had no justification in their actions in killing Floyd.
He is one of several who have voiced outrage over the killing – something that is rarely seen among officers.
In the video, Officer Hebert says that he saw the video footage of Floyd and had to speak out. It is unclear if he is referring to the first video or the second video.
“I HAD THE CHANCE TO WATCH THIS VIDEO OF GEORGE FLOYD BEING MURDERED ON THE STREETS OF MINNESOTA. YEAH, MURDERED, UM, AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS GOOD OFFICERS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE BAD. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AND WE OWE IT TO THE PUBLIC AND THE OTHER OFFICERS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT THAT ARE OUT HERE ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO GOOD.”
Hebert goes on telling his 387 thousand followers that those that stay quiet in fear of judgement are complacent with the officers’ “disgusting behavior” who have been identified as Derek Chauvin, the cop with his knee on Floyd’s neck; Tou Thao, the cop standing facing the witnesses and Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, who were also piling on Floyd but were obstructed by a vehicle in one video.
Hebert calls out Thao, saying that he is just as guilty for standing idly by and watching his fellow officers actions and not stopping them.
The officer ends the video calling for action:
“IT’S TIME THAT WE TAKE THESE BAD OFFICERS AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST THEM AND HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND HOLD THEM TO THE SAME LAWS THAT WE EXPECT CITIZENS TO ABIDE BY. THEY ARE NOT ABOVE IT AND IT’S TIME GOOD OFFICERS SPEAKING OUT AND STOPPING IT.”
Hebert is not the first officer to cross the line.
A South Florida officer, Ericson Harrell, took to Facebook to voice his concerns.
Harrell called Officer Chauvin’s action extra sadistic.
“IF A PERSON IS HANDCUFFED THERE’S NO NEED TO PUNCH THEM OR PLACE A KNEE ON THEIR NECK, UNLESS YOU’RE BEING EXTRA SADISTIC.”
This is not the first time Harrell has crossed the Thin Blue Line.
PINAC News covered his suspension in 2018 when he took to Facebook voicing his concerns on police accountability. He also has a YouTube channel called ‘The Penitent Cop’.
Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy, who only posts a few times a month, took to Twitter to voice his concerns.
Chief Roddy says that there is no need to wait or see more videos and those that have no issues with the four officers’ actions need to turn their badge in.
“THERE IS NO NEED TO SEE MORE VIDEO. THERE NO NEED TO WAIT TO SEE HOW “IT PLAYS OUT”. THERE IS NO NEED TO PUT A KNEE ON SOMEONE’S NECK FOR NINE MINUTES. THERE IS A NEED TO DO SOMETHING. IF YOU WEAR A BADGE AND YOU DON’T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS…TURN IT IN.”
Detroit Police Chief James Craig held a press conference on Thursday afternoon voicing his concerns as well.
“If a civilian would have done what this officer did, what would we do? Arrest them,” Craig said, according to ClickOnDetroit.
Mississippi Police Officer Tyron Baker told his Facebook friends that law enforcement officers can not hide behind a badge and expect change. Officer Baker also acknowledged that one officer can give a bitter taste about officers all over the world.
Since the videos went public, all four officers have been fired. Currently, the FBI and the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating the murder of Floyd, but no charges have been presented.