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#THREAD: Our @wkbw I-Team began looking into accusations of use of force by the NFTA Police Chief George Gast then the Department took steps to fire the person they felt was sneaking us information. Essentially, the alleged "whisteblower" lost his job. https://www.wkbw.com/news/i-team/nfta-police-chief-stands-by-conduct-in-on-camera-incidents-and-decision-to-fire-an-alleged-whistleblower
Let's start at the top. We were looking into two incidents involving Gast. One in 2017 & one in 2019. The first was a video his own officers reported where they say he hit a cuffed man in the genitals and slammed his face into the wall. Gast says it was a "tap in the midsection"
The second was an incident in 2017 where Gast told officers to uncuff a suspect and asked if he wanted to get up in his face.
I'm told this was dangerous cause it could've led to additional charges for the young man who was in custody for drugs.
Gast's response:
I'm told this was dangerous cause it could've led to additional charges for the young man who was in custody for drugs.
Gast's response:
Both of these incidents went to the Erie County DA and the Inspector General for review after officers reported Gast. He was cleared of any wrongdoing, he says.
You heard him in both videos standing by his conduct saying it was entirely appropriate. https://bit.ly/2ZprTXI
You heard him in both videos standing by his conduct saying it was entirely appropriate. https://bit.ly/2ZprTXI
{excerpt from interview}
Gast: There was nothing here that was done that was outside of our use of force policy, at all.
Madison: Anybody on patrol — you're comfortable with everything you did in this video? They'd be okay to do that, too?
Gast: Absolutely.
Gast: There was nothing here that was done that was outside of our use of force policy, at all.
Madison: Anybody on patrol — you're comfortable with everything you did in this video? They'd be okay to do that, too?
Gast: Absolutely.
Source: “I simply do not feel that this department is doing anything to advance into the present. And if it doesn't change, then we will see headlines like Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc keep dominating our news. Police culture must change, that starts at the top."
Now -- to that 'source'. Short story: we were asked to prematurely send the materials we were working to verify so the Dept could do the same.
A mugshot came up that wasn't theirs.
This is the basis they used to fire someone *our I-Team was completely unfamiliar with*
A mugshot came up that wasn't theirs.
This is the basis they used to fire someone *our I-Team was completely unfamiliar with*
The Chief/Department said a person was purposely working to falsify information to frame him for "beating" the man in the Metrorail station (incident 1). Gast said he had absolute proof this person was giving info to our I-Team -- which would be impossible.
The individual the Department insisted was our I-Team's source we made contact with for the first time after learning of his suspension.
He said he was choosing to retire instead of fight "retaliation".
He said he was choosing to retire instead of fight "retaliation".
I spoke with a number of officers about what happened to this person during our investigation and they told me this is why police won't step up to report conduct they feel crosses the line -- they end up losing thier jobs. They said this is why police reform is near impossible.
After I viewed the two videos with an NFTA spokesperson who shared that the mugshot was not theirs, and still decided to run the story with the new facts we had gathered -- also known as the truth -- I was sent not one but TWO emails saying my story may veer into "malice".
And then after saying multiple times the person they were moving to fire (who ended up retiring) was not a known source of mine -- I get this email letting me know what happened to "the source who provided me with information"
Chief Gast took serious offense to the information I was working to verify and ask questions about regarding his conduct. He asked at the end of our interview if he could say one last thing.
{End thread}
That's our report broken down (mostly for my mom's viewing pleasure). As always, I'll take questions during office hours and you can read more here. https://bit.ly/2ZprTXI
That's our report broken down (mostly for my mom's viewing pleasure). As always, I'll take questions during office hours and you can read more here. https://bit.ly/2ZprTXI
The end is never really the end with me.
Forgot to thanks @clinicsmike for his time on this piece helping explain why "whistleblower" protections don't apply in this situation. First Amendment protections are tricky and hard to understand when it comes to bringing things to light
Forgot to thanks @clinicsmike for his time on this piece helping explain why "whistleblower" protections don't apply in this situation. First Amendment protections are tricky and hard to understand when it comes to bringing things to light
