By Police1 Staff
COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A police lieutenant who was fired after a 2016 video surfaced showing him making what is believed to be a sarcastic comment to an uncooperative driver said he’s retiring.
As Police Chief Mike Register was announcing Cobb County police Lt. Greg Abbott’s termination Thursday on TV, Abbott sent an email to the county announcing his retirement, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.
Cobb County Public Safety Director Samuel Heaton confirmed to CNN Friday that the department had received an email from Abbott requesting immediate retirement.
“He was eligible for that. Once he retires he is no longer employed so no disciplinary action can take place. He is entitled to his retirement, which he would’ve received even if he was fired,” Heaton said.
Abbott was recorded on dash cam footage telling a driver who said she was afraid to move her hands that “Remember, we only kill black people.”
“But, you’re not black. Remember, we only shoot black people. We only kill black people, right?” Abbott says to the driver.
An internal review report of Abbott’s comments indicate that the officer was being sarcastic, according to the chief. A representative of the driver said she also believes the officer was being sarcastic because the woman “gave him some lip” but said it makes you cringe, Fox News reported.
The chief said that he considered the 28-year veteran officer to be an honorable man, but the comments were “inexcusable,” no matter the intent, the Associated Press reported.
“I feel that no matter what context you try to take those comments in, the statements were inexcusable and inappropriate. They’re not indicative of the values that I’m trying to instill within the Cobb County police department and that I believe the county holds,” Register said.