Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
Two California Police Officers Charged, 13 More Suspended, Over Antisemitic Vandalism and Bigoted Messages
Error: Contact form not found.
by Algemeiner Staff
A police vehicle in the city of Torrance, California. Photo: Torrance PD.
Two former police officers in Torrance, California, a city located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, are facing vandalism charges for spray-painting a Nazi swastika on the back of a car they impounded, while more than a dozen officers in the same department have been placed on leave for sharing racist, antisemitic and homophobic messages.
The charges against 29-year-old Christopher Tomsic and 28-year-old Cody Weld were announced by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon on Friday.
Gascon said the charges against the two men stemmed from their presence among a group of officers who responded to a call on Jan. 27, 2020 about three men who had allegedly stolen mail from an apartment building. The two officers impounded a vehicle that may have been used in the alleged crime. When the vehicle’s owner retrieved it from a tow yard, he found a happy face had been spray painted on the front passenger seat, and a swastika had been spray painted on the rear seat.
Gascon said his office would review hundreds of cases involving the two officers for any signs of misconduct, emphasizing in a statement that it was “committed to uprooting discrimination within the law enforcement ranks to preserve the integrity of the criminal legal system.”
The investigation into Tomsic and Weld revealed that 13 other Torrance police officers, who have been placed on administrative leave, had allegedly shared racist, homophobic and antisemitic messages, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Torrance Mayor Pat Furey told the broadcaster it was”sickening” that anyone would engage in such behavior, but especially so for a sworn police officer.
The Anti-Defamation League praised the decision to bring charges against Tomsic and Weld.
“No matter the source of hate, we must stand up and denounce it,” the ADL’s Los Angeles office said in a statement. “We are heartened that these officers are facing consequences for their reported hateful actions.”
The head of the police department in Torrance meanwhile declared that he would not tolerate any form of hatred.
“Let me be clear, I will aggressively pursue any form of racism, bigotry, hate or misconduct at the Torrance Police Department,” Torrance Police Chief Jeremiah Hart said on Thursday.
