Cobb Police Officer Suspended for Two Weeks

COBB COUNTY, GA -- Police Officer Maurice Lawson, who was accused of racism following a November traffic stop, has been suspended two weeks without pay.

The suspension was announced late Friday afternoon by Police Chief John Houser. The suspension will be served Jan. 25-28 and Feb. 1-4.

“Loss of emotional control, statements that can be construed as racially biased or insensitive, and unnecessary banter and invitations to step out of a vehicle that have the potential to lead to an altercation are unacceptable and damaging to the citizens involved and our community as a whole,” Houser wrote.

Lawson had a pre-disciplinary hearing on Jan. 13, during which time he and attorney Lance LoRusso will work to respond to charges laid against him, the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

Those charges stem from a Nov. 16 traffic stop on Mableton Parkway. Lawson, who is white, was caught on dash camera footage telling black motorist Brian Baker to “Go back to Fulton County” and “I don’t want to hear about your people.”

The Department of Public Safety launched an internal probe into the incident. On Dec. 17, the district attorney’s office announced the investigation would take longer than originally thought due to “the need for additional review of records and scheduling of additional interviews.”