COBB COUNTY, Georgia -- Video from a police car's dash camera shows an officer attempting to calm a nervous driver during a DUI stop by telling her "We only kill black people."
The video was obtained by WSB Channel 2 in Atlanta. The woman can be heard telling the officer she's afraid to move her hands because of recent police-involved shootings.
"Remember, we only kill black people. We only kill black people, right?" the officer from Cobb County tells the woman.
WSB identified the officer as Lt. Greg Abbott. The traffic stop occurred in July.
WGCL Channel 46 reports the department has confirmed the comments and Abbott has been placed on administrative duties while the incident is investigated.
Lance LoRusso, the lawyer for Abbott, says the officer was trying to "de-escalate a situation involving an uncooperative passenger."
"In context, his comments were clearly aimed at attempting to gain compliance by using the passenger's own statements and reasoning to avoid making an arrest," LoRusso says.
Cobb County Police Chief Mike Register tells WSB that Abbott is a "good officer" and he's unaware of any racial complaints against him. Still, he released a statement condemning the incident.
"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," the statement says.
