MISSOURI OFFICER FIRED OVER RACIALLY CHARGED RAP VIDEO

St. Joseph Police Officer Zackary Craft is seen walking down the street, holding signs and reaching for his gun

By Dave Hon

St. Joseph News-Press
February 25, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Missouri -- Zackary Craft's employment with the St. Joseph Police has been terminated.

Craft was placed on leave two weeks ago after being involved in a racially charged video. Craft appeared in his St. Joseph Police Department uniform in J.Smitty’s “Before This Bomb Blows Up (Racism Goes Both Ways.)” Craft is seen walking down the street, holding signs and reaching for his firearm.

The signs held by Craft include “cop lives matter,” “wrong is wrong” and “right is right.” Signs held by others in the video include racial epithets. Other signs include derogatory language toward President Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. At one point, J.Smitty is seen spitting on a picture of Sharpton.

Original Story

A St. Joseph Police Department officer has been placed on unpaid administrative leave after appearing in a racially charged rap video.

Zackary Craft appears in his St. Joseph Police Department uniform in J.Smitty's "Before This Bomb Blows Up (Racism Goes Both Ways.)" Craft is seen walking down the street, holding signs and reaching for his firearm.

The signs held by Craft include "cop lives matter," "wrong is wrong" and "right is right." Signs held by others in the video include racial epithets. Other signs include derogatory language toward President Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. At one point, J.Smitty is seen spitting on a picture of Sharpton.

Capt. Jeff Wilson, public information officer for the St. Joseph Police Department, said the incident is being investigated.

"We in no way condone that video," Wilson said. "It is in violation of our policies and procedures concerning social media."

Craft's lawyer, Morgan Roach, said his client allowed himself to be filmed for the video, but wasn't aware of the other content.

"When Officer Craft saw the finished product for the first time recently, he was appalled and promptly acted to repudiate the song and to have it removed from the public's view," Roach said in a news release. "Officer Craft did not know or give permission for the images to be used in the manner depicted in the music video.

"He whole-hardheartedly rejects the song, the music video, and the misguided message in it's entirety."

The video was posted online Feb. 5 and Josh Smith, who goes by J.Smitty, said he took down the video at the request of Roach, but said he's not happy because he lost all his shares and views.

"I tried to paint a good picture of police officers in this video," he said. "The message behind it is very controversial and I understand they're trying to do damage control, but he didn't hold up any bad signs in the video."

He also said officers are "going through a lot right now" but he's very upset with the St. Joseph Police Department.

"I'm not real happy about it," he said. "It's a lot of politics."

EDITOR’S NOTE: What an idiot!