Oklahoma City police officers placed on leave over April Fools’ Day 911 call to dispatchers
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Police Department has placed officers on leave after reports of an April Fool’s Day prank that sent police cars chasing after a baby thrown out of a car before the call was revealed as a hoax.
Oklahoma City Police Capt. Valerie Littlejohn confirmed Monday that an internal investigation was underway, but would not say how many officers have been placed on administrative leave or provide details of the charges.
“We are aware of a reported lawsuit involving some of our officers, which included serious allegations, which have since been determined to be false,” Littlejohn said in a statement. “We take this situation seriously and are committed to ensuring a thorough review is conducted.”
The investigation follows the release of a police radio recording on the night of April 1, reported by Oklahoma City television station KFOR and other stations, in which a dispatcher said “the city just advised that the suspect threw a baby out the window.”
“The police officer chasing him doesn’t have a radio. He’s just sending a message to locate him,” the dispatcher explains.
After a number of officers responded to the report, a dispatcher can later be heard saying, “It was an April Fool’s joke.” »
Another dispatcher says, “Not funny. »
A message left Monday with the president of the Oklahoma City police union seeking comment on the incident was not immediately returned.
Oklahoma law makes it a misdemeanor to report “knowingly false information that could result in the dispatch of emergency services by any public agency.” The punishment is a fine of up to $500 and an assessment for all costs associated with dispatching emergency personnel.
