LAPD Internally Investigating Valentine-Style Image Of George Floyd With Inscription: ‘You Take My Breath Away’

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has launched an internal investigation after an office reported that an inappropriate Valentine’s Day-stylized image of George Floyd with the inscription “You take my breath away” was being shared around the department.

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 13: Terrance Floyd (R), the brother of George Floyd, attends a unveiling of a ... [+] mural painted by artist Kenny Altidor depicting George Floyd on a sidewall of CTown Supermarket on July 13, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough New York City. George Floyd was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis and his death has sparked a national reckoning about race and policing in the United States. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) Getty Images

LAPD Chief Michel Moore told The Los Angeles Times on Saturday that the department has launched an investigation and is interviewing the officer who reported the alleged image on Monday. “Our investigation is to determine the accuracy of the allegations while also reinforcing our zero tolerance for anything with racist views,” said Moore, adding that those identified as being involved “will find my wrath.” In a statement posted to Twitter, the LAPD said it has not yet identified “any actual postings in the workplace or identified that it was in fact our department employee who created the image,” though the allegation is that it was a department employee behind the picture.

“The department will have zero tolerance for this type of behavior,” continued the LAPD in its statement.

Floyd, a Black man, died in Minneapolis police custody last May. Footage of a Minneapolis Police Department officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck while he cried out that he could not breathe went viral and sparked months of racial justice protests, which were also invigorated by a string of other deaths of Black men and women in police custody. Derek Chauvin, the officer who was seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck in the video, is facing second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges.

“Officers Claim Only White Staff Allowed To Guard Derek Chauvin In Jail” (Forbes)

“Judge rejects third-degree murder charge against ex-officers in George Floyd case” (The Minneapolis Star-Tribune)