York City Police officer accused of reenacting George Floyd's death on administrative leave

Sam Ruland
York Daily Record

Update: A York City Police officer has been placed on administrative leave with pay as the department continues to investigate allegations that he reenacted the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who cried "I can't breathe" as a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes.

Officer Clayton Swartz has been accused of mocking Floyd’s death while at a graduation party, according to several social media posts and an online petition calling for his job termination.

"At one point in the evening, we were alone in a room and the off-duty officer came into the room and reenacted George Floyd(’s) death, MOCKED his last words with his knee on his friend’s throat asking him if he could breathe," India Maldonado wrote about the incident online. "I watched in shock as one of the people who is supposed to protect and defend me intentionally tried to intimidate us and glorify police brutality."

In a previous statement, Mayor Michael Helfrich said the officer had been taken off the street and placed on desk duty. The decision to now place him on administrative leave comes as a precaution. 

"For the safety of the community, the police officer, other employees of York City, and the City of York itself," Helfrich said, "the police officer has now been put on administrative leave with pay." 

During this period of administrative leave, the officer is relieved from performing any and all duties as a City of York Police Officer, and is directed to refrain from acting as or identifying as a police officer, Helfrich said in a statement.

Swartz has been directed to turn over his weapon, ID card, badge, keys and other YCPD property. He is also directed to stay away from the police department headquarters. 

Maldonado created a petition online Wednesday, recounting her experience at the graduation party and calling for Swartz to be fired from the department.

"The entire night, it was clear that this man was watching myself and my black friend the entire evening," she wrote. Maldonado has not responded to the York Daily Record’s inquiries for comment.

More:Protesters gather in peace in York to stand against police brutality, honor George Floyd

She also said a complaint was filed with the City of York Office of Internal affairs. Derek Hartman, public information officer for the York City Police Department, confirmed this information, though he could not elaborate on specifics of the investigation.

The petition started with an initial goal of reaching 15,000 signatures. By Thursday evening, it had gathered more than 17,000 signatures, and the goal had changed to reach 25,000.

"This man does not value black lives and I fear for the black and brown men, women, and children who call York City home that may encounter him throughout his career as an officer," Maldonado wrote. "His father is the police chief of a neighboring township, we need to make sure this isn’t brushed under the rug."

Officer Clayton Swartz, right, of the York City Police Department, is under investigation following allegations that he acted out the death of George Floyd while at a party.

Swartz is the son of Spring Garden Township Police Chief George Swartz.

Helfrich said evidence and testimony still needs to be collected regarding the alleged incident, a process that he noted is required by law.

"Right now, we have allegations," Helfrich said in a public statement. "This is why I am telling people to video everything. If we had video of what he is accused of, he could be gone already. Instead we have to follow a lengthy investigation process. A city is not like a business. I can't just fire someone based on an allegation without an investigation. This is the best I can do for now."

This isn’t the first time the department has come under scrutiny for its officers exhibiting racist behaviors.

Special report: Police in York County shared racist, sexist, anti-Muslim pics on Facebook

Last July, a York City Police officer was identified in a York Daily Record investigation for posting racist comments and pictures on Facebook.

The posts can be seen in the gallery below.

Officer Griffin Jackson’s employment with the city ended about a month after the article’s initial publication, when Jackson was taken off the street and the city launched its own internal investigation.

More:York City police officer exposed in YDR Facebook investigation no longer on the force

Sam Ruland is the Pennsylvania issues reporter for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network, covering all aspects of life in Pennsylvania. Contact her at sruland@ydr.com, 717-654-8779 and follow her on Twitter @sam_ruland.

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