A review panel in Chicago is recommending suspensions for three officers involved in a controversial raid of an Asian tanning salon, reports WBEZ.
Surveillance camera video of the incident which went viral shows an officer grabbing an Asian woman who is later identified as salon manager Jessica Klyzek, a naturalized Chinese American.
One officer smacks her while another is heard saying “You’re not f—— American! … I’ll put you in a UPS box and send you back to wherever the f— you came from. ”
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WBEZ learned of the recommendation for suspensions by the Independent Police Review Authority through the Freedom of Information Act.
Immediate reaction to the recommendations were negative.
“As Asian Americans, we’re constantly viewed as perpetual foreigners,” said Andy Kang, the Legal Director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Chicago. “And (in) our society immigrants, women, people who are undocumented are continually devalued as human beings, and I think this slight punishment is unfortunately evidence of that problem.”
The recommendations call for a 25-day suspension for Officer Gerald Di Pasquale. He is the one who authorities say made the UPS remark.
The panel called for an 8-day suspension for the officer believed to have struck Klyzek while she was handcuffed, Officer Frank Messina.
Sergeant Brian Blackman faces a one day suspension for failing to intervene and later not reporting the verbal abuse.
The final decision is up to Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy who could still potentially fire the officers.
You can read reaction from Klyzek’s attorney and about what the officers are doing now on WBEZ.
RE: Suspensions recommended for 3 officers in in Police Raid of Asian Salon in Chicago: The cop should be fired!
re: Suspension recommended for 3 police officers in raid on Asian salons in Chicago: That’s a bad police we have here.
He must be punished!