LAPD officers celebrate Michael Brown's death in parody song
In a shocking video obtained by TMZ, LAPD officers celebrate the death of Ferguson teen Michael Brown with a parody song of “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.”
The footage is from an annual police charity event hosted by retired LAPD officer Joe Myers at Elks Lodge in Glendale, California. According to TMZ, there were about 50-60 people in attendance, half of which were police officers.
In the video, a lodge member and former federal investigator Gary Fishell can be heard leading the song that contained these lyrics.
“Michael Brown learned a lesson about a messin’
With a badass policeman
And he’s bad, bad Michael Brown
Baddest thug in the whole damn town
Badder than old King Kong
Meaner than a junkyard dog.Two men took to fightin’
And Michael punched in through the door
And Michael looked like some old Swiss cheese
His brain was splattered on the floorAnd he’s dead, dead Michael Brown
Deadest man in the whole damn town
His whole life’s long gone
Deader than a roadkill dog.”
Someone who thought the song was appalling recorded the video because they were shocked that no one seemed to object to it.
Fishell’s lawyer told TMZ that his client later realized how “off color and in poor taste” the song was. He further defended him by saying “he’s a goofball who writes funny songs.”
However, former Officer Myers was less than apologetic. “This is America. We can say what we want. This is a free America.”
Members of the Glendale Elks Lodge are upset, though, and plan to take actions against Fishell and the organizers of the event. “We don’t stand for any racist things like this,” a trustee of the lodge said.
The LAPD is launching a preliminary investigation into the matter. The police chief Charlie Beck said this in a tweet.
I am aware of the video released via TMZ. Like many of you, I find it offensive & absurd. It does not reflect the values of the #LAPD. I have directed our Professional Standards Bureau to look into this & determine if any active department employees were involved.
