BREAKING: @DCpolicedept Sean Lojacono takes the stand in his own defense in appeal hearing to overturn department’s decision to fire him for improper and intrusive searches on DC residents. @wusa9
“I’m pretty disappointed about how things have gone because all I’ve ever tried to do was the right thing and now I’m being thrown to the wolves because of the way I was as trained,” Lojacono said.
“I don’t go out of my way to humiliate people. I understand that people perceive some of the things I’ve done as wrong, but I wasn’t trying to embarrass anybody.”
In a stunning moment, Officer Lojacono admitted the way he conducted two invasive body searches on September 27, 2017 was common practice, and that he had conducted “hundreds” of similar searches in his 5-year career.
Lojacono also acknowledged numerous other protests by subjects he searched in that manner. @dcpolicedept trying to fire Lojacono for the second of 2 searches on the day in question. The first search resulted in a 6-figure settlement paid by city to M.B. Cottingham after he sued
Every search that I’ve ever done has been consistent with that search,” Lojacono said of the viral you tube video of the Cottingham search. “That’s the way I was trained to do it.”
Lojacono admitted the Cottingham “style” search of a suspects groin was NOT how he was trained to do it at the academy which follows @DCpolicedept general orders and guidelines. Lojacono said veteran officers at 4D & NSID taught him to use the more invasive searches in the field
“The first day I got there I was told: rookie forget everything you learned at the academy. That’s not how it’s done.” Lojacono estimated he would witness hundreds of arrests in his time at NSID that resulted in discovery of narcotics using the groin search.
In defending his second body search on September 27, 2017, the one that ultimately led to his firing, Lojacono said the search he’s seen on BWC video conducting “I’ve seen numerous officers conduct the exact same search. I was trying to emulate what they were doing.”
Reminder that police officers only have probable cause for invasive body/groin search if there is evidence of a crime.
Prosecutors also hammered Lojacono for not handcuffing the suspect or placing him under arrest for public consumption of alcohol, which was Lojo’s justification of search and required by MPD general orders if a field search is to be conducted.
Lojacono called the decision not to cuff a de-escalation tactic. “The tactic is have a seat, let’s talk about this…and when more officers arrive, you talk to the person in a calm manner and explain what you are taking them to jail for.”
“In hindsight should I have handcuffed him? Yes. My mindset was assisting (my partner) Perhaps I should have put handcuffs on him. It was not my intention to mislead anyone.”
NEW INFORMATION ON COTTINGHAM VIRAL VIDEO: Lojacono said he intrusively searched that area only to find out it was bunched up underwear. Says Cottingham initially agreed to be searched, and when he revoked consent Lojacono felt case law allowed him to keep searching.
Search was based on the open container of alcohol Cottingham was drinking on side of Atlantic Avenue which Lojo called a known “open air drug market” After not finding drugs Lojacono said he let Cottingham go because “I had no intention of ruining his birthday.”
Lojacono admitted he was the one on the police speaker at the end of the viral you tube video mocking @soupvisions – the person making the cell phone recording - with taunts of “Worldstar” because other past police videos were posted to that website.
Lojacono testified at length about his interview conducted by internal affairs. Lojacono believes the internal investigations detective was unfair… and mischaracterized his answers and drew incorrect conclusions about his actions.
Lojacono said law enforcement has been in his blood “ever since my great-great grandfather joined the force up in Boston.” His father Chris retired from @dcpolicedept as a commander after a 30-year career. “I love being an officer because I love helping people,” Lojacono said.
“I feel like to an extent it speaks for itself,” Lojacono said of his career with @dcpolicedept. “I pride myself as being a very hard worker having a father who was on the dept casts a shadow over you and I made it a point to be a hard worker and make a name for myself.”
Lojacono also said if people had “a better understanding of what we are trying to accomplish maybe things like this would be interpreted differently.”
*****CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE UP NEXT********
*****CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE UP NEXT********
