Top brass in the Memphis Police Department suspended an officer for excessive force after the Local I-Team exposed the officer's conduct on camera in a vide...

Top brass in the Memphis Police Department suspended an officer for excessive force after the Local I-Team exposed the officer’s conduct on camera.

The exclusive video shows a police officer hit a man and shove him into a car with his foot during an arrest. The video reached 3,500,000 people and ignited a firestorm of comments about whether the officer’s conduct was appropriate.

“I don’t think they took it to a point to me to where it was excessive, because I don’t think anybody had to go to the hospital, anyone was injured,” said Mike Williams, president of the Memphis Police Association.

“There is some abuse going on there,” said State Representative G A Hardaway. “Excessive force that is obvious.”

The video also launched a investigation from Memphis Police Internal Affairs. A 140-page investigation report describes the officer’s conduct as “definitely unnecessary and contrary to the training regimen that he received at the academy.”

The report went on to state the suspect appeared to be “surrendering when he sat on the ground” and cited the baton hit as “totally unnecessary.” Also cited as unnecessary, lifting the suspect by his handcuffs with the officer’s arm around the suspect’s neck and pushing him in the squad car.

The decision may change views of city officials like Mayor Jim Strickland who, when asked to speak to the concerns of people about the officer’s conduct, said, “First of all, I don’t think most people are concerned about it.”

Mayor Strickland then went on to say, “I’ve not had one person ask me about that video other than you. I don’t think the average citizen thinks that’s an issue.”

“With all due respect, our mayor, I think his comments are deeply disturbing,” shared Pastor Earle Fisher. “I think it communicates a particular level of being out of touch with what’s going on because every day ordinary citizens all around this city are concerned about police and civilian relations.”

We asked Mayor Strickland before airing this report whether he wished to amend his comments in light of the MPD’s conclusion. He said only that he stands by the findings in the report.