A firefighter in Oakland, California, filed a racial profiling complaint against a police officer. According to KTVU, Oakland firefighter Keith Jones was leaving an Oakland Raiders football game around 10:30 p.m. when he noticed that the door to his fire station was open.
Jones parked his car and his sons, ages 9 and 12, waited outside of the fire station as he checked to make sure everything inside was secure. When Jones went back outside, a white police officer, Anthony Martinelli, pulled a gun on Jones and aimed it at him and his sons.
Jones’ boys began crying as Martinelli told them to put their hands above their heads. Jones initially tried to tell the cop that he was a firefighter, but the officer told him to keep his hands up.
Eventually, the officer told Jones to turn around slowly and to hand him his ID. Jones gave Martinelli his ID and the officer took it to his car to search to do a background check.
Martinelli discovered that Jones is indeed a firefighter and apologized for the confusion.
However, Jones believes that it was a case of racial profiling and filed a complaint against Martinelli. Jones says that his sons are distraught by the situation and are now afraid of police.
The Oakland Police Department will not punish the officer involved. They conducted an internal review and believe the officer acted within policy.
Jones has yet to reveal if he will file a lawsuit against the officer or OPD.
