The Sheffield Lake Police Department police chief has stepped down after leaving a note that read “Ku Klux Klan” on a Black officer’s raincoat, according to the city’s mayor.
Sheffield Lake Mayor Dennis Bring said he was informed of the incident last week by the police union. Bring immediately placed Chief Anthony Campo on administrative leave until he was able to review the video, according to WKYC.
"I said, 'I don't want to even hear about it," Bring said, describing his conversation with Campo to WKYC. "I said, 'You've already have admitted to it.' And I said, 'You've got 10 minutes to get out of this office.' I said, 'I want your keys, badge, and that’s it. Get out.' "
Bring then said he had an emotional conversation with the officer apologizing for the actions of Campo.
"It took us 10 minutes to even talk to each other because we were both very emotional," Bring said. "And I apologized to him. We talked about the situation, and he told me a little bit more. I was just flabbergasted. There's no one word to explain how disgusting this is."
The footage captured Campo printing off the note from the department’s printer and placing it on the officer’s coat. Campo has come out saying that what he meant as a joke, is being “overblown.”
Campo spoke with WKYC and said that he has great respect for the officer whom he hired. After he was placed on leave for his actions, Campo reportedly decided to retire after three decades of service on the police force and eight years as chief.
The officer involved in the incident has yet to be named, and according to Bring, he is declining to speak and has retained a lawyer for possible action.