Two police officers from the LAPD were dismissed from their jobs after they chose to prioritize playing Pokémon Go over responding to a robbery call. The incident occurred five years ago, but recently released dashcam footage has shed light on their negligence.
The LAPD has made public three hours of footage capturing the events that led to the firing of former officers Louis Lozano and Eric Mitchell. The footage, recorded inside their patrol car in 2017, reveals their decision to disregard the call for assistance and instead spend approximately 20 minutes hunting Pokémon. Notably, the officers were particularly focused on finding a Snorlax that had appeared on the Pokémon Go map.
Initially, the officers attempted to deny their involvement in playing Pokémon Go, claiming it was merely a Pokémon tracker and not a game. They even argued against using the car footage as evidence during their court hearing.
Despite their efforts, it was evident that their actions were highly problematic. Both officers were charged with misconduct and their appeals were unsuccessful. It is worth noting that these were not inexperienced officers, as they had a combined 25 years of service.
This incident serves as a reminder that Pokémon Go should never take precedence over one’s responsibilities, especially for those in law enforcement. Prioritizing personal interests over public safety can have severe consequences.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
