FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Fort Worth’s police chief says he is standing by a 10-day suspension given to a white officer who was filmed wrestling a black mother and her daughter to the ground during a December incident.
Chief Joel Fitzgerald said at a news conference Friday that leaked body cam footage and personnel records from previous disciplinary actions against officer William Martin would not affect the suspension.
Fitzgerald also said the leak was illegal and that he plans to investigate it as a criminal act. He said the leak did not influence the decision to drop charges against the mother and daughter Thursday.
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said she is asking the city and chief for “systematic change” at the department, but did not specify what changes she wants to see.