By Police1 Staff
WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Police Department released video of a crash between two cruisers that officials said was the result of “drag racing.” Last month, DC Police said four officers were under investigation after “totaling” two cars.
Now, new bodycam footage released on Monday shows the moments before the crash. In the video, an officer and his partner sit chatting in a patrol car before the driver starts to accelerate. Less than 30 seconds later, the cruiser crashes into a fellow, oncoming cruiser and the airbags go off.
An officer steps out from the passenger’s side and swears.
“Yeah, I’m good,” he says.
According to WUSA 9, police said a probationary officer was fired in connection to the incident.
“Obviously those types of things are unacceptable, they’re embarrassing [and] it’s not something we tolerate,” said acting DC Police Chief Robert Contee to WUSA 9.
An MPD commander condemned the incident.
“What does this say to all the members of MPD who are passionate about their job and work hard every day to make a difference. This is not fair to any of us,” wrote Cmdr. Durriyyah Habeebullah in an April 23 memo obtained by WTTG-TV. “What good are officers to their fellow officers if they don’t arrive safely or they total vehicles that we need to do our job?”
Contee said the other officers involved are part of an internal affairs investigation.
Four officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash, according to WUSA 9.
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