A veteran police officer in Cobb County, GA, will be fired because while on duty last year, he told a white woman he stopped, "we only kill black people", authorities announced Thursday.
In dashcam footage from a July 2016 traffic stop, a white woman is heard telling Lt. Greg Abbott, a 27-year veteran of the police department that she was scared to put her hands down because she had "seen way too many videos of cops".
"But you're not black. Remember, we only kill black people," Abbott, who is also white, responded. "Yeah, we only kill black people, right?"
Cobb County officials held a press conference to address the video and confirmed the identity of the police officer in the video as Lt. Greg Abbott.
Police Chief Mike Register said that the officer, who was placed on administrative leave, will now be removed from the department.
"The statements were inexcusable and inappropriate," Register told reporters. "I don't know what's in his heart, but I certainly know what came out of his mouth and we have to take appropriate action."
Register specified that the video was a DUI (Driving under the influence) stop and that the woman was hesitant to put her hands down because she was afraid she would get shot.
"No matter what the context, statements like these are unacceptable and are not indicative of the type of culture we are trying to facilitate here in the police department, as well as within the county," Chief Register added.
