LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Sylvia Santana (D–Detroit) has issued the following statement on news that Detroit police officer Gary Steele allegedly posted a racist video on social media of a black woman he pulled over driving with an expired license plate.
“The behavior exhibited by Officer Steele is appalling from any person, let alone from an officer who is supposed to protect the communities they serve. I commend Detroit Police Chief James Craig for swiftly starting an investigation into this abhorrent incident because this type of behavior should never be tolerated.
“Chief Craig has done a tremendous job fostering community relationships and building trust with neighborhood police officers, but make no mistake: there is still more work to be done to erase police misconduct toward racial minorities, as this incident shows. It is essential that we raise the level of cultural competence within police departments with diversity training so that those in uniform recognize diverse backgrounds without bias and treat everyone — regardless of their skin color — with the respect that they deserve.”
###