TMZ screenshot
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating a song that was performed at a charity event organized by a retired officer, CBS Los Angeles reports.
TMZ originally released a clip of the performance that was allegedly performed by private investigator Gary Fishell. The event took place at Elks Lodge in Glendale, Calif., last week, the news site notes.
According to TMZ, the song's lyrics, to be sung to the tune of "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," were these:
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 charity dinner was attended by many current and former police officers, and according to TMZ, no one spoke up about the song.
Fishell has since issued a statement via his attorney saying, "Fishell now realizes the song was off-color and in poor taste. … He's a goofball who writes funny songs."
On Tuesday afternoon, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced on Twitter that he was aware of the video, which he found "offensive and absurd," insisting that the display "does not reflect the values" of the force.
https://twitter.com/LAPDChiefBeck/status/547578863421636608https://twitter.com/LAPDChiefBeck/status/547579578449788928
Read more at CBS Los Angeles.