US cop resigns over threatening people

The US policeman who threatened to kill protesters during demonstrations in Missouri has stepped down from the St. Ann police department.

Lt. Ray Albers, a 20-year veteran, has been relieved of duty after he pointed his semiautomatic weapon at peaceful protesters and reporters earlier this month.

A video that recorded the encounter showed the officer cursing and pointing his rifle in the direction of the camera, telling protesters, “I will [expletive] kill you.”

Protesters can be heard urging the officer to lower his weapon.

One police sergeant can be seen lowering the officer’s weapon and escorting him away from the area.

“I’m not condoning [Albers’] behavior whatsoever,” Chief Aaron Jiminez said on Thursday. “It’s very hard because he is a good friend, he was a good boss.”

“There’s going to be those who didn’t like him who are high-fiving now. Altogether it’s going to be a black eye on the city of St. Ann because he represented our department.”

The incident of the police threatening to kill people comes at a time when protesters demanded charges against Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson for the August 9 fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed African-American teen.

AGB/AGB