Franklin Chu (inset), seen using his baton on a passerby, who later spoke about the incident on a radio program (right), was involved in a controversial case 12 years ago. Photos: Now TV, DBC, Ming Pao
Police commander steps down over Mong Kok baton video
A police commander is stepping down and will be investigated after a widely circulated video showed him hitting people with a baton during a police operation to clear a protest site in Mong Kok, Apple Daily reported Friday.
Shatin District Commander Franklin Chu told colleagues in an internal message that he will be the subject of an investigation by the Complaints Against Police Officeafter after being identified by netizens from the popular hkgolden website.
Chu was accused of using a police baton against civilians who were peacefully obeying police instructions while walking outside a building at the junction of Argyle Street and Nathan Road junction Wednesday night.
“The video that you watched is actually one of many occasions last night when we had to resort to the use of public order control tactics, including batons, to disperse a crowd of a hundred-plus trouble-seekers from reoccupying Argyle Street,” the report quoted him as saying in his message.
“The video clip being circulated has actually been cut in such a way as to take it out of context.
“Given the anticipated pressure from the media and politicians, I shall relinquish the command of my Tier II [Company] and retire as scheduled this Christmas.”
Chu ended on a wistful note: “I’m proud of being a police officer, though the end result may not be as glorious as I might have expected.”
The newspaper said Chu had handcuffed a cameraman in a police clearance operation in Chater Park in 2002, when he was an assistant commander in Central district.
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