SEATTLE—
The Seattle Police Department Gang Unit detective who was photographed kicking and yelling racial slurs at a young Hispanic man apologized for the verbal insults Friday night.Det. Shandy Cobane described the incident, which happened on Westlake Avenue on April 17.
Speaking at the Police Department, Cobane called his remarks "offensive and unprofessional."
Openly crying, Cobane apologized to Interim Chief John Diaz, his fellow officers, and Seattle's Latino community.
He said his words to the young Hispanic man, who was not involved in the incident the gang unit was investigating, "cut deep and were hurtful."
Cobane did not address the fact that the video appears to show he kicked the man. Chief Diaz says the police department has fast-tracked its internal investigation of the incident.
Cobane and a second officer have been temporarily put on desk duty.
