Two former California officers charged for alleged swastika vandalism, 13 on depart over derogatory messages
Two former Torrance, California officers are dealing with vandalism costs after they allegedly spray-painted a swastika on a automobile they impounded, the Los Angeles County District Lawyer introduced Thursday. Greater than a dozen different officers have been positioned on depart after the investigation revealed they allegedly shared racist, homophobic and antisemitic messages, reviews CBS Los Angeles.
“It is unacceptable, but it surely turns into doubly unacceptable when we’ve the folks which might be sworn to guard all of us who interact on this habits,” Los Angeles County District Lawyer George Gascon stated at a press convention as he introduced the fees.
Gascon’s workplace says the 2 former officers, 29-year-old Christopher Tomsic and 28-year-old Cody Weldin, had been amongst a gaggle of officers who responded to a name on Jan. 27, 2020 about three males who had allegedly stolen mail from an condo constructing. The 2 officers impounded a automobile which will have been used within the alleged crime. When the automobile’s proprietor retrieved it from a tow yard, he discovered a contented face had been spray painted on the entrance passenger seat and a swastika had been spray painted on the rear seat.
Tosmic and Weldin have each been charged with one felony rely every of conspiracy to commit vandalism and vandalism, Gascon’s workplace says. The district lawyer stated he’s nonetheless contemplating whether or not the fees attain the edge of a hate crime, reviews CBS Los Angeles. The officers pleaded not responsible. Each left the division final yr, the station reviews.
Gascon stated his workplace will evaluation tons of of instances involving the 2 officers to make sure no different alleged misconduct occurred. Gascon stated in a press release his workplace is “dedicated to uprooting discrimination inside the legislation enforcement ranks to protect the integrity of the felony authorized system.”
Torrance Police Sgt. Mark Ponegalek stated in a press release that when the Torrance Police Division discovered of the allegations in 2020, officers there instantly opened a felony investigation and positioned the officers on depart. He stated the felony case was delivered to Gascon’s workplace in April 2020 with a suggestion that costs be filed. Ponegalek stated the division is cooperating with investigators and the officers now not work there.
“Let me be clear, I’ll aggressively pursue any type of racism, bigotry, hate or misconduct on the Torrance Police Division,” Torrance Police Chief Jeremiah Hart stated Thursday.
The investigation into the 2 officers revealed that 13 different officers, now on depart, had allegedly shared racist, homophobic and antisemitic messages, CBS Los Angeles reviews.
Torrance Mayor Pat Furey instructed the station it’s “sickening” that anybody would interact in such habits, however particularly so for a sworn police officer.
In a press release launched to the station, the Anti-Defamation League stated, “Irrespective of the supply of hate, we should rise up and denounce it. We’re heartened that these officers are dealing with penalties for his or her reported hateful actions.”
