In a heated exchange of words at traffic stop where a Georgia police officer handed a motorist two traffic violations, the cop reportedly told the black driver, “I don’t care about your people.”
According to the newspaper, Lawson expressed his frustration to other officers at the scene as Baker drove away.
"I lose my cool, man, every time,” the officer is quoted as saying. “Why do I got to deal with (stuff) like that? This is the (expletive) America we live in, ain't it?"
Dashcam video shows the Nov. 16 incident in Cobb County, northwest of Atlanta.
In an apology letter to Baker, Cobb County Police Department Capt. J.D. Adcock says the officer’s conduct "does not meet our high standards, has brought discredit to the department… and is not now nor will ever be tolerated." The letter identifies the officer only by last name and it states he was “disciplined” and “reassigned.”
Kimberly Bandoh, Baker’s lawyer is calling for the officer’s resignation.
"If I as a lawyer would say, 'I don't like your people,' I would be terminated," Bandoh told NBC News. "My client is a school teacher, and if he told a student that, he would immediately be terminated."
Adock also wrote that the department has applied “formal” discipline, and Cobb County police Sgt. Dana Pierce told NBC News that she could not comment on the situation as the investigation is ongoing.
"I want to take this opportunity to personally apologize to you for the conduct that you experienced and want you to know that we have taken the extraordinary step of using formal discipline, enhanced training, and reassignment in an effort to prevent similar incidents," Adcock wrote to Baker.
