Deputy Wesley Powell resigned after being confronted by the sheriff about a phone call with his friend while on duty in his patrol car.
We want to warn you the following story contains extremely offensive remarks. The management of WAGT believes that the public has a right to this information when it involves public officials. We also believe that we still must observe community standards so some portions have been edited with asterisks (*) replacing the most offensive remarks. Once again portions of this story are extremely offensive.
It started as a routine traffic stop. Dash cam video recorded Powell giving a driver a ticket. When he got back into his patrol car, Powell got a phone call from a friend.
Four minutes into the conversation, Powell made inappropriate comments about a gay acquaintance.
"His ex-boyfriend beat the s**t out of him behind Argos. And all this kind of s**t. I said, well silly f****t, d***s are for chicks," said Powell.
A few minutes later, the conversation turned to what he'd like to do to a woman.
"Not only am I going to pull her over. I'm going to sexually assault her,” said Powell.
Powell went on to say he was going to use his gun in that sexual assault.
About nine minutes into the conversation, he then told his friend about another traffic stop he made.
"I got this girl the other day. She had a damn n****t in the back seat. The thing wasn't old enough to crawl and she had it thrown in the back. I was just going to give her a verbal warning. Strap that monkey into the back seat. Put that monkey in the booster seat, strap it up and be done with it," said Powell.
Powell ended the phone call with another negative comment about the gay guy mentioned earlier.
"I didn't recognize him. But I remembered the grin he had with those big a** n****r lips.
It was a 15 minute conversation that cost Deputy Powell his job.
Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength says his agency will not tolerate or accept this kind of language by any deputy sheriff or employee of the sheriff's office.
Although Powell did resign, the sheriff's office also tells NBC Augusta 26 News they will turn in their findings to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) for review. That agency will then decide whether or not Powell will be allowed to work in law enforcement again.
NBC Augusta 26 News also looked into Powell's personnel record. In 2003, Powell was suspended for one day after making inappropriate comments to an inmate. The year before, he was suspended for two days after doing a business transaction with an inmate.
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what about the other officer who brake the law then make up charges to cover there wrong doing like officer KEVIN LINK?
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Thursday, Oct 9 at 6:43 PM augusta wrote ...
well most of the crime in augusta is black on black or black attacting whites so ya he does have something mad about. and frankly he she not get in any trouble not one bit ITS CALLED FREEDOM OF SPEECH live with and get over it
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Thursday, Oct 9 at 6:02 PM THIS IS BAD. wrote ...
ITS NOT SO MUCH THE RACIST REMARK CONCERNING THE BLACK MALE AND GAYS. THE REMARK HE MADE ABOUT THE SEXUAL ASSAULT TO A WOMAN. IF I WAS THE SHERIFF OR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO FIRE HIM I WOULD DO SO IMMEDIATELY. RACE REMARKS ARE ONE THING BUT HE STATED WHAT HE WOULD DO, HE SAID AND I WILL COPY PASTE> Not only am I going to pull her over. I'm going to sexually assault her,” said Powell.Powell went on to say he was going to use his gun in that sexual assault.< QOUTE.
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Thursday, Oct 9 at 12:05 AM Wondering wrote ...
This was a private conversation and he has a right of freedom of speech under the Constitution - yes what he said was bad and had he said it to someone he stopped or if he actually assualted someone then he should or would have been charged! Yet, he did none of this just talk! He should be disciplined and the Department should send him to counciling for help about his feekings. I have a question for all your viewers: How many of them have not made comments similiar? Be Fair about things
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Tuesday, Oct 7 at 9:06 PM No excuse wrote ...
This behavior is inappropriate and unacceptable no matter what race he was talking about. He was hired to serve and protect - period. This should be done without hesitation regardless of the sex, race, or religion. Right is right and wrong is wrong. He supposed to have been a role model for society, but instead he has made law-enforcement embarrassed to even know him. He apparently has very little self esteem because he finds pleasure in putting others down. He should face the consequences.
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Tuesday, Oct 7 at 3:58 PM Disturbed & Pissed wrote ...
It don't matter whether or nor this conversation was private or not. This jerk needs to be fired and given time. I am a female and i dont want a idiot like this protecting me. He is saying what he wants to do to a woman at gun point...HELLO.....RED FLAG ALERT.....ARE YOU BRAIN FLASHERS WORKING? He is telling you what kind of red neck b*** hole he really is. I mean common people use freakin common sense when it comes to idiots like this one.
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Monday, Oct 6 at 10:34 PM Anonymous wrote ...
for every one who says "this is a private conversation," this guy talks about sexually assaulting a woman. do u really want this jerk "protecting and serving?" his hatred is disgusting
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Monday, Oct 6 at 4:58 PM PEACE OFFICER?! wrote ...
I expect all officers of the law to be professional while on duty. Even if no one is around. when he is in that patrol car he is in his office & represent the people of the city. I as a black man or "MONKEY" who not want to face a jury whith HIM as my peer! That tape is NOTHING!....I tune in with my scanner & I hear worst then that from officers...I think he should have been fired.
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Monday, Oct 6 at 3:35 PM v wrote ...
The conversation may have been private but the video and all of it's contents belongs to the public.
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Monday, Oct 6 at 11:15 AM sadie wrote ...
i dont understand why he hates gays his daddy is gay maybe thats his problem
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Monday, Oct 6 at 8:58 AM new to augusta wrote ...
I just moved here from a smaller town and would have thought I would have witnessed hate like this there before here. Not only did he embarass himself, he embarassed his family - just think, his parents has friends, wonder how they appear to them now? Is this how they raised their son, to hate anyone not like them? Very embarassing and I sure hope he doesn't have kids, another generation to spew more hate. Are any of the tickets he wrote under review now?? Racial profiling....
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Sunday, Oct 5 at 8:13 PM SGT Slaughter wrote ...
The sad thing about this whole situation; is that according to an inside source, RCPD is going to allow this officer to retire with benefits. STILL TAKING OUR TAX PAYING DOLLARS. NBC AUGUSTA should investigate this.
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Sunday, Oct 5 at 12:40 PM Antoinette wrote ...
On taxpayer time, in a taxpayer vehicle, and, even if his personal cell phone, probably gets a discount on service because he works for government, NO, it was NOT a private conversation. Not under open records it was not. What an idiot and what an embarrassment to GOOD law enforcement officers elsewhere. I think ALL of his cases should be looked into DEEPLY. All of them. And, surely he will be reported to GA POST council.
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Sunday, Oct 5 at 10:03 AM ME wrote ...
I know him. Went to police academy together. I don't agree with what he said at all, and someone who believes in any of what he said should definatley NOT be in law enforcment. That being said though, he is still someone you could depend ot to have your back when the crap hits the fan.
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Saturday, Oct 4 at 7:15 PM Net wrote ...
Granted his conversation was private, but to have so much hate planted in his heart is sad. God created each one of us equal, regardless of a person’s skin color. It’s time to get Police Officers off the streets that are ugly towards people with his/her thoughts and actions. For the remainder of the Police Officers who have are inappropriate with comments and actions like this deputy, your time is coming to an end. It is time for Law Enforcement Officials to act accordingly.
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Friday, Oct 3 at 6:33 PM RHutto wrote ...
His comments were without a doubt disgusting. He definitely should not be a police officer. Also why was he using a cell phone while driving when we are told not to. He was also on the clock, being paid for having that filthy personal conversation. I hope he never works in law enforcement again. And I wouldn't trust him alone with any women either. He's nuts.
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Friday, Oct 3 at 3:37 PM Tamera wrote ...
This is really disturbing and disgusting.....he is a racist pig and should have lost his job. This type is person gives law enforcement a bad name, I wonder how much profiling he has been doing over the years? and also it doesn't matter that it was a private conversation, it gives insite into the type of person he is. The sad part is that he is only one of many....
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Friday, Oct 3 at 12:55 PM nun ya wrote ...
yes it was a private conversation,but that conversation gave the world a look into his real character.it showed he has no character,it showed he has no regard for the people he was charged to protect,any race or creed,just so you know there are more like him!!!!
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Friday, Oct 3 at 12:17 PM steve wrote ...
i agree with Accts. Manager
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Friday, Oct 3 at 12:08 PM Anonymous wrote ...
The issue should not be whether or not this was a private conversation. The issue is the ignorant hate that this keeper of peace allowed to come out of his mouth. Now you can not tell me that his private feelings did not affect his public job performance in some way.
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Friday, Oct 3 at 12:07 PM garrett wrote ...
not only should he have lost his job, he should have his gun shoved up his a--
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Friday, Oct 3 at 10:30 AM concerned wrote ...
to g at 9:37 . . .are you kidding? it doesn't bother you that a cop is talking to his friend about pulling someone over and sexually assaulting her? f***ing her with the barrel of his glock is the quote on a different stations website. This kind of bad seed is what makes good cops have a stressful job and I'd be afraid to be pulled over by him.
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Friday, Oct 3 at 9:40 AM retiredvet wrote ...
As a white Southerner, I am appalled that this deputy would use such language and harbor so much prejudice against individuals. I would pray that he would seek the Lord to enable him to have a change of heart.
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Friday, Oct 3 at 9:37 AM g wrote ...
Its pretty bad when you can't even have a private conversation with one of your friends while your at work. Police officers already have a stressful job, today's society has to harp on every little thing that they do wrong! Its funny when some people have free speech and others don't!
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Friday, Oct 3 at 9:23 AM A wrote ...
I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY IT SUCH A BIG DEAL! THIS WAS A PRIVATE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE OFICER AND A FRIEND. EVERYBODY MAKES PRIVATE PHONE CALLS AND AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER SAYS THINGS THEY SHOULDNT, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THIS OFFICER GOT CAUGHT. I CERTAINLY DONT THINK THAT THIS TAPE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED TO THE PRESS.
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Friday, Oct 3 at 8:45 AM Accts. Manager wrote ...
Yes it was a private conversation. Thanks to his negligence we now know he is not suitable or qualified to be a "peace" officer.
We have enough hate and racial hate in the world, we dont need Powell as a Police Officer. How many more Police Officers will make Richmond Co Sheriff Dept look foolish to let someone like Powell slip through the Police Acadamy?!?
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Friday, Oct 3 at 8:40 AM unknown wrote ...
Just remember, not all law enforcement officers are like this jerk. I know alot of them that have let that badge go to their heads but not all are bad apples. It doesn't just stop there it goes up to the head of depts. and judges and DA's, most of them are just there trying to make a case to make themselves look good no matter what the real truth is.
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Thursday, Oct 2 at 11:12 PM J. wrote ...
...what does it matter (9:20 PM augusta wrote ...was this a private conversation with his friend?) that this peace officer had such private hatred in his heart toward a segment of the population? Could he be counted on to protect that segment of the population in a time of need or would the ugliness of his heart prevail?
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