After two police officers were fired and accused of sabotaging vehicles with racist messages, the District Attorney’s Office will review hundreds of Los Angeles County police cases.
On Thursday, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon announced that the two former Torrens police Department officials were accused of “damaging a vehicle with a Nazi logo in an incident last year.”
The District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the two former police officers were 29-year-old Christopher Tomcic and 28-year-old Cody Welding. The District Attorney’s Office said in a press release that Tomsic and Weldin were charged with “conspiracy to vandalize and vandalism, a felony each.”
In addition to the allegations against the two police officers, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office stated, “His office will review hundreds of cases involving these two police officers to ensure that no other suspected misconduct has occurred.”
According to the press release, the original incident occurred on January 27, 2020, when Tomsic and Weldin, along with a team of Torrance Police Department officers, responded to a report of three men allegedly stealing mail from an apartment building.
Subsequently, the police discovered that the car may be related to the suspected crime and transported it to a nearby trailer.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said that when the owner rushed to the trailer to pick up the car, the car was found damaged.
The owner “found a smiling face sprayed on the front passenger seat and swastikas sprayed on the rear seat. Other items were also scattered in the car,” the press release said.
The press release continued, “Both police officers have been charged with conspiracy to commit sabotage.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney Gascon said in a press release: “Our office is committed to eradicating discrimination in law enforcement teams in order to maintain the integrity of the criminal legal system.”
Before Gascon’s office announced the charges, the Torrance Police Department stated in a press release that the department’s detective department had investigated the suspected incident and found that Tomsic and Welding were responsible for vandalism. They were all relieved of their positions and no longer employed by the department.
“The Torrance Police Department is committed to providing service and safety to our community. Upon learning of the condemned allegations in 2020, the Torrance Police Department immediately launched a criminal investigation and the officer was on leave. The criminal case has been transferred to Los Angeles County, Los Angeles The District Attorney’s Office recommended criminal proceedings in April 2020,” Torrance Police Chief Jay Hart said in a press release.
Hart added: “As the new police chief, I am committed to making all our members, including myself, accountable to the highest police standards.”
according to CNN, Hart dismissed 13 other police officers after investigating what he said involved “racism and hatred.”
Weekly newspaper After contacting the Torrance Police Department for comments, he was directed to a press release.
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