The Fresno Police Department has launched an internal investigation after one of its officers joined the Proud Boys at a protest over the weekend.
The officer, not named by the department but identified by the Fresno Bee as Rick Fitzgerald, was seen in a video posted to YouTube by a former member of the alt-right organization whose home was raided by the FBI earlier this year.
"Although at this point these are merely allegations, and the matter will be fully investigated, it is important to maintain the integrity and legitimacy of our police department,” Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama said in a statement Sunday.
The officer has reportedly been placed on administrative leave.
Social media users were quick to point out that a man appearing to be the same person as the officer in the video appeared with the Proud Boys at a recent Sacramento "Stop the Steal" protest. In other online posts, he claimed to be president of the "Sons of ’76," a so-called "patriotic fraternity" focused on community service and charity, as reported by the Fresno Bee.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer called the video "extremely disturbing" in a Twitter post.
The Proud Boys became a household name during the 2020 presidential election cycle. The hate group is known for its white nationalist views, among others.
"Any allegations of actions unbecoming of a police officer or the affiliation with any alleged criminal or hate group will always be investigated and addressed," the chief said. "Fair and impartial policing are extremely important in our society. There is no place in our police ranks for any biased, racists, or anti-Semitic views."
The protest in question was over the sale of Fresno’s Tower Theater to an evangelical church. The Proud Boys attended as a counter protest.
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