The Columbia Police Department in Columbia, SC has suspended Sgt. Chad Walker without pay. Walker was recorded on camera using the N word on August 29. at a bar.
Around 11 p.m. Walker was on patrol in the Five Points area of Columbia. Walker entered Bar None and found what police say were several violations of the governor’s executive order to stop the service and consumption of alcohol past 11 pm, WACH News reports.
It was then that Walker began ordering people to leave the bar and stop drinking, threatening arrest. A man can be heard on video calling Walker a racial slur while leaving the bar.
Walker goes back outside and confronts a near bystander. That leads to a heated exchange where Walker twice uses the n-word to explain what he’d been called that inside of the bar. Walker then confronts the man who he believed called him the N word. The black man and Walker have a brief argument.
More people in the crowd begin to argue with Walker regarding his use of the N word. Another cop gets in Walker’s face and tries to persuade him to stop. The officer says to Walker, “You aint gonna win this one.”
12 hours after the encounter The Columbia Police Department announced that Walker was suspended without pay. The department also condemned Walker’s actions and words.
Columbia Police said in a statement:
“We sincerely apologize for the inappropriate, disrespectful words, behavior and actions of Sgt. Walker. We share the public’s outrage and frustration regarding the highly offensive and disrespectful incident. The Columbia Police Department has taken immediate action and has suspended Sgt. Walker pending the outcome of a disciplinary command review board process which is standard protocol.
The statement went on to say:
“After reviewing the video from last night in Five Points, it is evident the actions of Sgt. Walker were a clear failure to fulfill the expectations and standards of our department. The repetition of the racial slur and failure to deescalate the situation were inexcusable. Our officers are trained to serve as leaders and to deescalate confrontations of potentially volatile situations. Although I am embarrassed and disappointed in the sergeant’s actions, I was encouraged to see a junior officer intervene and remove Walker from the situation, potentially stopping further escalation.”