Largo Police Officer Fired After Video Shows Him Manhandling Teen

LARGO, FL -- A white Largo Police officer has been given his pink slip after being captured on video using force against a 17-year-old black teen.

The officer, Brian Livernois, was fired by Largo Police Chief Jeffrey Undestad on Tuesday following an internal affairs investigation.

In the cell phone video taken on April 3, Livernois, is heard using profanity and threatening language toward the teen before shoving him against a police cruiser and grabbing the teen by the back of the neck.

Off-camera, multiple onlookers can be heard telling Livernois to "Just chill, bro," and "Don't ******* touch him like that."

They also advise the 17-year-old, "Don't resist."

At one point, Livernoise and a bystander began shouting at one another followed by Livernois shoving the man.

The video was widely circulated on Youtube and social media sites, prompting the internal affairs investigation by the police department.

Among those who posted the video was on Youtube was James McLynas, was is running for sheriff of Pinellas County.

"This conduct is 100 percent unprofessional by the Largo officer and should never have occurred," said McLynas. "This is what our youth sees and this is what our youth shares with each other. How do you think that these three teens and every teen that views this video are going to perceive police for the rest of their lives?"

Undestad issued a statement apologizing for Livernois' actions.

"We take great pride in the positive relationship the Largo Police Department has with our community," said Undestad. "Actions like this are not acceptable and violate the public's trust, which every employee has worked so hard to earn. This situation warranted the former officer's termination."

Livernois had been employed by the Largo Police Department since November 2012.