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US officer quits after harassment over Puerto Rico shirt US officer quits after harassment over Puerto Rico shirt
(about 5 hours later)
A US police officer has quit amid an inquiry into his response to a woman who was racially harassed while wearing a Puerto Rican flag shirt .A US police officer has quit amid an inquiry into his response to a woman who was racially harassed while wearing a Puerto Rican flag shirt .
Mobile video shows the officer, Patrick Connor, appearing to ignore the woman's pleas that he intervene as a white man repeatedly jabs his finger at her.Mobile video shows the officer, Patrick Connor, appearing to ignore the woman's pleas that he intervene as a white man repeatedly jabs his finger at her.
"Officer, I feel highly threatened," she says, as Mr Connor turns his back and walks towards his patrol car."Officer, I feel highly threatened," she says, as Mr Connor turns his back and walks towards his patrol car.
The incident took place last month in a public park in the Chicago suburbs.The incident took place last month in a public park in the Chicago suburbs.
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County Police Department - where Mr Connor worked for 12 years - announced that he had resigned on Wednesday. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County Police Department - where Mr Connor worked for 12 years - announced that he had resigned late on Wednesday.
"But that isn't where our work ends," they said in a statement, adding: "We are further addressing aspects of this incident." At a press conference on Thursday, Superintendent Arnold Randall said that Mr Connor was "very remorseful" when he resigned but that the officer considered it "an unfortunate incident" and felt that he was not "given a fair shake".
Mr Randall added that Mr Connor's personnel file will say that he did not leave "in good standing", and will include a note that he left "with discipline pending".
He added that officials will review the mandatory diversity training that officers are required to take. Mr Connor had taken the course a year ago, officials say.
In an earlier statement, the police said that an investigation had been launched and the officer had been placed on desk duty.In an earlier statement, the police said that an investigation had been launched and the officer had been placed on desk duty.
The viral video clip shows Mia Irizarry, 24, setting up her picnic when a white man approaches and demands to know why she is wearing her shirt, which had "Puerto Rico" written on it.The viral video clip shows Mia Irizarry, 24, setting up her picnic when a white man approaches and demands to know why she is wearing her shirt, which had "Puerto Rico" written on it.
Hispanic woman berated as US cop looks onHispanic woman berated as US cop looks on
"You should not be wearing that in the United States of America," the man, identified as 62-year-old Timothy Trybus shouts."You should not be wearing that in the United States of America," the man, identified as 62-year-old Timothy Trybus shouts.
"Are you a citizen? Are you a United States citizen?""Are you a citizen? Are you a United States citizen?"
Ms Irizarry asks a park police officer who has arrived for help, saying: "I am renting this area and he's harassing me about the shirt that I'm wearing."Ms Irizarry asks a park police officer who has arrived for help, saying: "I am renting this area and he's harassing me about the shirt that I'm wearing."
But the policeman does nothing.But the policeman does nothing.
She says: "Officer, I'm renting, I paid for a permit for this area."She says: "Officer, I'm renting, I paid for a permit for this area."
"I do not feel comfortable with him here, is there anything you can do?""I do not feel comfortable with him here, is there anything you can do?"
But the officer walks away.But the officer walks away.
Coming closer, the man says: "You're not gonna change us, you know that?"Coming closer, the man says: "You're not gonna change us, you know that?"
"OK, OK," Ms Irizarry says, trying to placate him."OK, OK," Ms Irizarry says, trying to placate him.
Mr Trybus continued to harangue Ms Irizarry for about 10 minutes before other officers arrived and arrested him.Mr Trybus continued to harangue Ms Irizarry for about 10 minutes before other officers arrived and arrested him.
He has been charged with disorderly conduct and assault.He has been charged with disorderly conduct and assault.
On Thursday, state officials announced that they would also charge him with a felony hate crime.
"That officer did absolutely nothing - he did absolutely zero," Ms Irizarry said in her 36-minute long Facebook live broadcast."That officer did absolutely nothing - he did absolutely zero," Ms Irizarry said in her 36-minute long Facebook live broadcast.
The video had angered public officials including the governor of Puerto Rico. Supt Randall said that Ms Irizarry deserved to be praised for her response amid a national trend of "racially charged, abusive incidents we're seeing throughout the country".
"We might start with the fine example presented by Mia Irizarry and her family, who handled this ugly incident with great composure, never stooping to the level of the man who attacked her," he said in a written statement.
He added that the staff of Caldwell Woods, where the incident occurred, had apologised directly to Ms Irizarry and refunded the money that she had paid for her permit.
The video had angered public officials in the state of Illinois, as well as the governor of Puerto Rico.
The island of Puerto Rico is a US territory.The island of Puerto Rico is a US territory.
"I am appalled, shocked and disturbed by the officer's behaviour," Gov Ricardo Rosselló said on Twitter."I am appalled, shocked and disturbed by the officer's behaviour," Gov Ricardo Rosselló said on Twitter.
"He failed to de-escalate the situation and therefore did not ensure a citizen's safety.""He failed to de-escalate the situation and therefore did not ensure a citizen's safety."
Nearly half of Americans are unaware that Puerto Ricans are United States citizens, according to polling taken after the island was rocked by a hurricane last September.Nearly half of Americans are unaware that Puerto Ricans are United States citizens, according to polling taken after the island was rocked by a hurricane last September.