LAPD Investigates Possible Misconduct in Michael Brown Parody

Los Angeles police said today they are conducting a preliminary investigation into a party apparently hosted by a retired officer that included a parody song mocking Michael Brown, who was fatally shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

A video of the song, which was sung during a Dec. 15 party at the Elks Lodge in Glendale, was obtained by the website TMZ.com. Sung to the tune of “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” the song included lyrics calling Brown a “thug” and said Brown “looked like some old Swiss cheese” after the shooting, with his brain “splattered on the floor.”

Police said the department was working to determine if any current officers attended the event. LAPD spokeswoman Jane Kim told the Los Angeles Times that if any officers were present and misconduct took place, “a formal investigation will be opened.”

Brown, 18, was shot Aug. 9 by Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson. Last month, a grand jury decided not to charge Wilson with a crime, sparking weeks of protests across the country, including Los Angeles.

Another protest was expected tonight in front of LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.

• City News Service
• Photo Credit: Youtube Screengrab