The video, recorded by occupants of a auto pulled over by Officer Matthew Zagursky, shows him telling the driver and passenger that they can either buy $10 tickets to the Police and Fire Hero Thrill Show fundraiser or he will impound the vehicle because it’s unregistered.
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In the videos, Officer Matthew Zagursky tells a driver that if he buys tickets to the fund-raiser he will not tow his vehicle.
In the course of the video, Zagursky makes a comment about pink windshield wipers the driver had installed in honor of his grandmother’s battle with breast cancer. Zagursky replied. “You look like you’re a fruitcake, you know, what the hell?”
The interaction was posted on Facebook by a user named ‘Rob Stay Faded.’ The fundraiser alluded to is the Hero Thrill Show, which raises money to pay for college tuition of children of Philadelphia police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.
Police Chief Charles Ramsey denounced the officer’s behavior and said the matter is under investigation.
While the department investigates the incident, Zagursky has reportedly been taken off the streets. “That’s totally inappropriate, and it could very well be illegal”, Ramsey said.
“Anyone with any kind of clear thought at all would know that that’s just not good, it’s not what you do”, Ramsey said, adding that his actions have diminished the charity event.
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“Breast cancer man, my grandmom went through it”, the driver replied. Ramsey said the police department distributes tickets at district offices but does not pressure officers to sell a certain number. “He’s tarnished that entire event, and the entire cause that it represents, by his actions”, the commissioner told the press.
The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported Friday on an Internal Affairs investigation into the video. “‘Cause it’s unregistered”.
Cop: “Support your police department, man. You got any kids? You got any sweetheart?” he asks.
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“I’d rather take my girl than this guy”, the driver says.
