Port Huron Police Chief Joseph Platzer insisted in a press release Thursday that the department takes “use of force very seriously,” in light of a video circulating on social media depicting an officer punching a drunk man during a confrontation last fall.
The video, obtained secondhand by Kevin Lindke, administrator of the local “Through My Eyes” Facebook page was taken in November 2022. The incident saw officers talking with a drunk man outside a local home, suggesting that he sober up by taking a walk. However, the man disagreed, belligerently threatening to “kick [all the gathered officers’] expletives” when he was not let back inside the home.
After saying this several times, the man was struck in the face and taken down by the officer, who explained that he thought he saw the man swing at him as he and fellow officers handcuffed him.
Via a February 23 press release, the department explained that following a review of the incident, the officer’s supervisor found that he had violated policy, immediately beginning an internal investigation and putting the officer on paid administrative leave. The investigation resulted in disciplinary action for the officer, as well as additional training in de-escalation and subject control techniques.
It is not clear what disciplinary action the officer received, nor if the officer had any prior incidents similar to this.
