Body camera video shows an Oklahoma City Police Department captain repeatedly asking a fellow officer to turn off his camera after he was pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving.
Capt. James «Matt» French was arrested Sunday after Sgt. Chris Skinner said he saw French swerve in his SUV and turn without using a signal, according to the video.
Skinner stops French when the captain stops in the driveway of a house. French immediately comes out with his hands in the air, the video shows. Skinner then orders him to go back inside the vehicle.
«I’m…» French starts to say.
«Drunk?» Skinner asks.
«No. I’m the captain,» French replies.
French returns to his SUV and again tells Skinner that he is with the city police department. He then whispers to Skinner, «Turn off your camera.»
Skinner declines the request and asks French to get out of the vehicle.
French says in the video that he was at a poker game and had three or four beers. Skinner asks French if he thinks he should have been driving.
“No, but I come from four blocks”, answers the captain.
Skinner instructs French to lift one leg and count until told to stop. When French loses his balance, he again asks the officer to turn off the camera.
«I can’t, sir. I know you’re aware of our body camera policy. You know I can’t turn this body camera off,» the officer says. «I’ve sworn an oath to uphold the law. I don’t show favoritism to anyone, regardless. I don’t care if you’re a gang member or the President of the United States.»
French is eventually handcuffed after repeatedly losing his balance.
The Oklahoma City Police Department said French has worked with them for 32 years. The department will conduct a criminal investigation followed by an administrative investigation into French’s actions, a spokesman said.
CORRECTION (March 17, 2023 at 6:22 p.m. He’s a police captain, not the chief.