CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — The promotions of a pair of officers in Cuyahoga Falls have been placed on hold as the police chief launches an internal investigation into a photo that surfaced this week.
A spokesperson for the city of Cuyahoga Falls said that the picture in question was taken sometime around 2008.
Danielle Sydnor, President of the Cleveland Branch of the NAACP said the image perpetuates stereotypes steeped in racism.
It shows three people dressed up as members of the 1980's TV show "The A-Team," with one of them wearing blackface, pretending to be the B.A. Baracus character played by Mr. T.
Two of the officers who were reportedly in that picture were up for promotions next week, but the chief is holding off for now.
“I believe the fact that their promotions have been put on hold is a good first step," Sydnor said.
Sydnor is also calling for a deeper look into the officers’ conduct while on the job.
“The way that they’ve stopped people, have they profiled people in the past?" Sydnor asked.
In a statement, Cuyahoga Falls Police Chief Jack Davis said the photo was brought to his attention late Thursday night and he immediately began an investigation.
He will have further comments upon the investigation's completion.
Meantime, in a statement to News 5 City Councilman Drew Reilly condemned the behavior of all of the people in the photograph and called their behavior "contrary to the ideals of the people of Cuyahoga Falls."
He ended his statement with "We must do better."
“For individuals to still use the excuse or the rationale that they didn’t know, I just really say this is a part of the reason why we have to be doing life with people that don’t look like us," Sydnor said.
An attorney with the Ohio Patrolmen's Association, which represents the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department said they have not yet made contact with their members.
Meantime, the officers in question remain on the job as the investigation continues.
“I would absolutely make a judgment based on the photo that they have a deep amount of insensitivity to what blackface means to Black people and the history of blackface, and I would give them an opportunity to correct their behavior," Sydnor said.
News 5 is still working to authenticate the picture and the identities of those who are in it.
A city spokesperson said the officers in question were not working Friday, so the chief was unable to ask them face-to-face if they were the ones seen dressed up as the A-Team.
