ATLANTIC CITY — The city's Police Department is investigating a traffic stop in which an officer laces into two suspects with an angry, profanity-filled tirade and threatens to sic a police dog on them.

The incident was partially captured on one of the men's cellphones and shared online. Police on Wednesday said the incident also should have been captured by the officer's body-worn camera, which investigators will review.

"The language and tone used by our officer in the video is concerning and is not condoned by this department" the department said in a statement.

The online video begins in the middle of the traffic stop with one of the men asking the police why they were being detained and the police officer demanding that they stop recording.

"Calm the f--- down!" the officer orders the two men, who calmly reply "yes, sir" to the officer's commands.

"I guarantee you that 90-pound dog is going to come out and rip the f--- out of you," the officer shouts at one point. "Put your hand in my face and I;m going to knock you the f--- out."

WARNING: Video contains foul language

In response to the video, the department said it "values our interactions with our residents and visitors."

"We have worked hard to gain the trust and confidence of the community by becoming part of the community with many of our programs such as Pizza with the Police and Coffee with the Cop. Our officers are involved in neighborhood walks and events that educate the community on the role of police officers with our Civilian Police Academy and Juvenile Police Academy."

The officer, who has not been publicly identified, was placed on administrative assignment as the internal affairs investigation proceeds.

The suspects also were not identified and it was not immediately clear what they had been charged with.

Police said the incident happened either Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

The announcement of the investigation came on the same day that the department announced that another officer was being charged with assault his girlfriend.

The department encouraged anyone with further information about the incident on video to call the Internal Affairs Section at 609-347-5833.

 

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