A white South Carolina police officer was suspended after he used the N-word multiple times towards a Black man on Saturday (Aug. 29).
Sgt. Chad Walker, a 14-year veteran, was assigned to Bar None and found that the business was reportedly still serving alcohol against the Governor’s executive orders. According to a statement released by the Columbia Police Department, a male was heard on video calling Walker a racial slur.
There was then a heated exchange between the two men and Walker repeated that racial slur multiple times to the Black male. The incident was caught one cellphone footage and on the officer’s bodycam.
Walker said he had the right to repeat the word. “He can say it to me, but I can’t say it to him?” Walker asked, as he pointed to the Black man.
Chief Holbrook released a statement about the incident and says he shared the “public’s outrage and frustration regarding the highly offensive and disrespectful incident.”
“After reviewing the video from last night in Five Points, it is evident the actions of Sgt. Walker were a clear failure to fulfill the expectations and standards of our Department. The repetition of the racial slur and failure to deescalate the situation were inexcusable,” he said.
“Our officers are trained to serve as leaders and to deescalate confrontations of potentially volatile situations,” he continued. “Although I am embarrassed and disappointed in the Sergeant’s actions, I was encouraged to see a junior officer intervene and remove Walker from the situation, potentially stopping further escalation.”
The Columbia Police Department says they “will continue to work to earn the trust of the community that it serves. The actions exhibited last night are not a true representation of the courageous CPD men and women who proudly wear the police uniform. We will be accountable to the public we serve.”
Check out the video below.