The incident is likely to add more heat to the already hostile environment nationwide between police and the community.
Joe Myers, a retired LAPD cop, reportedly re-arranged the 1973 American pop song “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” to be performed at the party in a suburban Elks Lodge, substituting Michael Brown’s name for the title character. According to TMZ, around 50 to 60 people were in attendance including some police officers.
Former federal investigator and Elks Lodge member Gary Fishell can be seen singing in a video posted on the TMZ website.
"Michael Brown learned a lesson about a messin' with a badass policeman."
There is no confirmation that any current LAPD officers were involved. Police Chief Charlie Beck said in a tweet that he has directed the incident to the Professional Standards Bureau to see if any department employees are involved.
— Chief Charlie Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) December 24, 2014
"He's a goofball who writes funny songs," said Fishell’s lawyer, adding that he had now realized the song was "off color and in poor taste.”
