MPD motorcycle officer caught drag racing releases statement

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - The now-former Montgomery police officer caught on camera drag racing on his police motorcycle has released a statement.

The officer, who doesn't want to be identified by name, released the following statement to WSFA 12 News:

"I don't have any hard feelings against the department. All my life and throughout my career I have tried to be humble and reserved, but I'm not perfect. If I could start over I would have never done what I did. I appreciate everyone's support. I can't believe how everything has turned around for me. I guess it's the will of God."

The officer resigned his position with the force, according to Police Chief Kevin Murphy.

Now the civilian who recorded the drag race says he's starting a petition to get the officer his job back.

"We posted [the video] thinking, you know, it was something fun, something you don't run across every day and that's why we did it. Our intentions were to never get the cop in trouble, and we definitely didn't think he would loose his job," Lawrence Lee Spillers said.

Spillers recorded the video with a camera attached to his motorcycle helmet Sunday afternoon. The video was posted on YouTube and it quickly reached Montgomery Police Department officials.

The five-minute video starts with Spillers and the uniformed officer stopped at a red light on Eastern Boulevard in Montgomery. Spillers asked the officer if he wanted to race.

"I got turbo," the unidentified officer responds.

That's when the light turns green and the two take off.

Chief Murphy called the video upsetting, and said the officer could face charges.

"Police officers should obey the law, not violate them. You don't have to exceed the posted speed limit in order for the charge of drag racing. It's just the contest of accelerating fast in order to overtake the other motorists," Murphy said.

Murphy says this one former officer's actions don't reflect the entire organization.

"For the very thing that we are out here enforcing the law, for an officer to cross that line and violate it, there's no excuse. I will not tolerate it and he is no longer wearing the badge," the chief said.

Mobile users, watch the YouTube video here: http://youtu.be/o6f9ObCTeIA

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