NEWNAN, Ga. — An Atlanta police officer is at the center of an internal investigation because of what he accused of doing 45 minutes south in Newnan.
Atlanta police want to know if Officer Eric Whipple violated any city policies when we pulled his Taser on a man while trying to break up a street fight.
Witnesses told Newnan police Whipple pulled out a gun on July 5. Newnan Police Officers wear cameras on their heads. Channel's Erica Byfield obtained the video from the day in question.
Whipple is dressed in a ball cap and black shirt and jeans. Several witnesses described Whipple as aggressive.
"This man just put a f***ing gun in my face. This man just did this s*** to me?" one man is seen telling a Newnan officer.
Newnan police determined Whipple had his city issued Taser, badge and Atlanta police identification card.
"I pulled my badge out and I had it up like this," Whipple said on camera to a Newnan officer.
"What did he do with the Taser?" an officer asked a witness.
He responded, "Get on the ground, get on the ground, just trying to calm them down, I guess. That was a little bit over board really."
Records show Whipple has worked for the City of Atlanta for two years
The video shows the day of the incident several Newnan's officers told Whipple they thought some Atlanta city officials would question his behavior.
"I have nothing to hide," Whipple told them.
One officer said, "They are going to get you on your actions... you are way outside the city limits, and they don't like APD officers playing police outside the city."
Whipple responded, "I'm legally a police officer in Georgia."
"You are not deputized," the officer said.
Another officer told Whipple, "It's probably going to get ugly before it gets better, we're preparing you for it."
An Atlanta Police Department spokeswoman told Byfield that Whipple is still on the job.
It is unclear when the internal investigation will be complete and what, if any punishment, he will face.
WSBTV
