Los Angeles police are investigating this video of a song poking fun at the killing of black teenager Michael Brown by a white policeman, reports indicate.
The racist parody of "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," performed at a retired officer's party at the Glendale, Calif., Elks Lodge, went viral earlier this week ...
The song, captured on video and posted on celebrity gossip and news site TMZ, is pretty stunning considering the fallout from Brown's death this year.
Anger over police killings of black men has intensified following the cases of Brown and Eric Garner. No charges were filed against police in either case.
In an apparent revenge attack Saturdya, Ismaaiyl Brinsley murdered two officers in Brooklyn. With tragedies and tension at all time highs, this video?
It's certainly not going to help. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said: "Like many of you, I find it offensive & absurd. It does not reflect the values of the #LAPD."
"I have directed our Professional Standards Bureau to look into this," he added, to help "determine if any active department employees were involved."
The lyrics, heard plain as day, are as follows:
Michael Brown learned a lesson about a messin'
With a badass policeman
And he's bad, bad Michael Brown
Baddest thug in the whole damn town
Badder than old King Kong
Meaner than a junkyard dog
Two men took to fightin'
And Michael punched in through the door
And Michael looked like some old Swiss cheese
His brain was splattered on the floor
And he's dead, dead Michael Brown
Deadest man in the whole damn town
His whole life's long gone
Deader than a roadkill dog
The song was performed by Gary Fishell, an Elks member, at a party organized by a retired LAPD officer there on December 15, local media reported.
A trustee for the lodge, in a statement to LA Weekly, apologized for the song, which he called inappropriate and said does not reflect the group's values.
A lawyer for Fishell, a former private investigator, said, "He's a goofball who writes funny songs," adding that he now realizes it was "off color and in poor taste."
Retired officer Joe Myers, who hosted the dinner after a charity golf tournament, spoke to TMZ about the song, saying, "How can I dictate what he [Fishell sings]?"
"This is America. We can say what we want. This is a free America."
A trustee for the Lodge says Myers' dinner was not an official Elks Club event, but since he is a member he had a right to hold a dinner there for his charity.
The trustee says many people were upset, though (including one person who was so upset that no one objected that they filmed and leaked the clip):
"It's deplorable and inappropriate and the Lodge will be taking disciplinary action against [Fishell] and possibly the people who organized this event."
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