Vallejo Police Investigate Officer For Possible Racial Slur Caught On Video

SOLANO COUNTY, CA -- A Vallejo police officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of an investigation of a citizen report that the officer used a racial slur during a traffic stop.

The alleged incident occurred about 4 p.m. Saturday as two Vallejo police officers conducted a traffic stop of potential suspects in a carjacking that had been reported in a nearby jurisdiction, Vallejo police Lt. Jeff Bassett stated in a news release.

"A resident in the area observed the car stop and video recorded the action with his mobile phone," Bassett said. "The citizen reports the officer used an unacceptable racial [epithet] during the initial contact."

According to Bassett, the Vallejo Police Department "takes all reports of unprofessional behavior seriously and has no tolerance for such behavior." The chief of police "ordered an immediate investigation into the incident," and the involved officer was identified and placed on leave pending the completion of the investigation, Bassett said.

The officer's name was not disclosed.

At least one of the suspects involved in the traffic stop was arrested Saturday on suspicion of the carjacking reported in Napa County, the Vallejo Times-Herald reported Monday.

“The officer used profanity but there were no racial overtones,” Vallejo Police Lt. Kevin Bartlett told the Times-Herald. “The occupants of the vehicle said they didn’t hear the officer use a racial slur.”

Bartlett told the newspaper that the video and audio would be enhanced to determine what was said.

On Monday, the city of Vallejo posted a clip of the citizen's video to YouTube, stating in the video description that the Vallejo Police Department is asking for a retraction and correction of a news story erroneously claiming that a Vallejo Police Officer used a derogatory racial slur during a high risk vehicle stop of a car-jacking suspect:

"On July 8, the Vallejo Police Department opened an internal affairs investigation after receiving information from a news source that a Vallejo Police Officer used a racial slur during a stop. KPIX CBS 5 had previously obtained a video depicting the event and later that evening aired a story indicating that one of the officers used the "N-word" during the contact.

"That same evening, the Vallejo Police Department attempted to obtain an original copy of the video from the Vallejo resident who recorded the incident and from the news agency with no success. Interviews were conducted of the occupants of the vehicle who were both Hispanic. The driver of the vehicle denied that the officer used any racial slurs and specifically denied that the officer used the "N-word". The passenger of the vehicle, David Plancarte, was arrested in connection with an armed car-jacking and refused to give a statement.

"On July 9, the Vallejo Police Department obtained an original copy of the video from the resident who made the recording. Upon playing the recording, the officer can be heard clearly saying, "Hey David" where the "N-word" was reported by KPIX CBS 5 as being used.

"The Vallejo Police Department has contacted KPIX CBS 5 and they have since stopped airing the story and removed all references from their website.

"The internal affairs investigation continues regarding the officers' use of profanity. The Vallejo Police Department is fully confident that no racial slur was used."

Image via City of Vallejo/YouTube