Snowball Fight Game Update: Off Duty Police Officer Suspended
First, it was a desk job for off duty police officer Michael Baylor who pulled his weapon during a snowball fight game. He was assigned to desk duty until the investigation was complete.
Now, the D.C. police officer will serve a 10-day suspension for violating the department's policy but will remain on the force, the Washington Examiner reports.
Chief Cathy Lanier said the actions of Detective Michael Baylor violated some type of police department protocol but could not elaborate because of city personnel laws.
As previously discussed, videos were widely circulated on the Internet of the off-duty plainclothes police officer pull his gun after snowballs hit his private car.
According to video footage and witnesses, the plainclothes police detective got out his Hummer, drew his gun and exchanged angry words with revelers.
The mass snowball fight game was organized by a D.C. resident after a record snowfall back in December.
Hundreds of people had gathered for the DC Snowpocalypse Guerrilla Snowball Fight 2009 after organizers used social networks such as Twitter to advertise it.
The 20- and 30-somethings hurled snowballs at each other, but one of their projectiles also hit a Hummer, whose driver was an Michael Baylor -- the off duty plainclothes policeman.
Many people were heard chanting "Don't bring a gun to a snowball fight!" after the off duty police officer allegedly pulled his gun.
Baylor was later filmed admitting the over-zealous action, saying: "I did it because I got hit with snowballs."
Detective Baylor is a three-decade veteran of the force.
- 'Snowball fight' detective deserves a break (Washington Post)
- Police check whether officer drew gun during snowball fight (CNN)
- The Washington Way: They Pull a Snowball, You Pull a Gun (Wall Street Journal)