Macon cops to be disciplined for on-duty football game

By Joel Provano

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A group of Macon police officers will be disciplined for playing a pickup football game while they waited to serve a warrant.

Macon Police Chief Mike Burns said a "specialized group of MPD officers met behind a building in the Presidential Parkway area to assist a detective with a warrant" last week. "There, while awaiting the arrival of the detective, the officers were seen playing football."

The incident was reported by a man who saw photos of the impromptu game that were taken by an employee of a nearby store. The man, identified as Steve Thompson, sent a copy of the photo to Macon television station WMAZ.

Burns said that while "no harm was intended" by the officers, they will be disciplined, but not suspended.

"All officers admitted to their involvement in the incident," he said. "It was explained to them by their superiors, that however harmless their actions, they used poor judgment in the situation and as a result, will be disciplined."

He said he would announce the disciplinary action after notifying the officers later Monday.

He said the men were "remorseful and embarrassed" and "I believe that they have learned from this unfortunate experience."

"I have asked for some police protection in our neighborhood due to some crimes that have been committed," Thompson, the man who reported the incident, told WMAZ. "And seeing the officers playing football, it just got me irritated knowing my tax dollars were doing that."