A GoFundMe page for a disciplined police officer is causing controversy in Cobb County.
Officer Maurice Lawson was suspended without pay after a November traffic stop captured on his dash camera.
In the video, Lawson appears to tell a man named Brian Baker, “Leave. Go to Fulton County. I don’t care about your people.”
Lawson received two weeks of suspension without pay, 36 hours of remedial training and increased supervision.
A fundraising page was set up by a private citizen to help the officer financially during his two weeks with no pay.
“This speaks to minorities about Cobb County about whether we're welcome or not, because you're giving money to Officer Lawson because he was disciplined,” said Baker’s attorney, Kimberly Bandoh.
The GoFundMe page surpassed its goal of $5,000, raising $6,500 in just 12 days. Among the donors, one was identified as CCPD Sgt. Andrew Marchetta, Lawson’s direct supervisor. Bandoh and Baker see it as a slap in the face.
“The captain, the chief of police, everybody said that he was incorrect for his behavior and it was wrong and you're donating? It means you don't agree with it and you're undermining the authority of the CCPD,” Bandoh said.
Baker did have his two citations dismissed by the police department.
Channel 2’s Wendy Corona reached out to Cobb County police for comment regarding the donations by staff members, but so far has not received a comment from the department.
