Police officers suspended when ‘suspect throws baby out of car window’ | US | News
According to one report, multiple officers gave officers false information that a baby had been thrown out of a vehicle window.
The disturbing allegations formed part of a twisted April Fool’s joke; It ended with a chase through city streets until a police officer admitted to fact-checking, the document states. “It’s not funny,” an officer is heard saying in the radio recordings after discovering the reports were fabricated.
However, the Oklahoma City Police Department suspended several officers believed to be involved in the incident. Although the exact number has not been disclosed, the investigation into their behavior is ongoing.
Oklahoma City Police Chief Valerie Littlejohn said: “We are aware of a pursuit involving some of our officers involving serious allegations that have since been determined to be false. We take this situation seriously and are committed to ensuring a thorough investigation is conducted.”
Dramatic radio recordings captured the moment panicked dispatchers responded to bogus claims; These recordings began when a police officer reported a police pursuit in Oklahoma City around 9:30 p.m. on April 1.
“Delta 13 reported that they threw a baby out of the window at 36th Street and Robinson Avenue,” a dispatcher said, citing the officer’s report. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol officer then intervenes and asks: “Can we see if they need our help?”
The dispatcher says: “The pursuing officer doesn’t have a radio. He’s just texting his location.” After several officers responded, a dispatcher was heard saying: “This was an April Fool’s joke.”
Under Oklahoma law, it is a misdemeanor to report “knowingly false information that could result in the dispatch of emergency services from any public agency.” Those found guilty face a fine of up to $500 (£375) as well as an assessment covering the costs of dispatching emergency personnel.
Speaking to local news outlet KFOR, attorney Noble McIntyre stated that in Oklahoma, penalties for misusing 911 can also result in up to 90 days behind bars. He also said: “But the issue is bigger than that. The important thing is the trust in the ministry.”
The Oklahoma City Police Department employs more than 1,300 officers and staff, making it one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the state, with origins dating back to the 1880s.
The force patrols an area of 621.2 square miles and serves a population of more than 712,000.
