Watch: Greensboro leaders release ‘disturbing’ body camera video of former police officer

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GREENSBORO, N.C. — Body camera video released Monday by city leaders shows a former Greensboro police officer using “disturbing” excessive force. After releasing the video, city council members voted 8-0 in favor of a resolution calling for the permanent suspension of former Greensboro officer Travis Cole’s law enforcement certification.

The video shows Cole displaying “wrongful conduct” during an incident on June 17.

When city leaders released the video during a press conference Monday, several people applauded.

The incident began with Cole and another officer responding to a possible breaking and entering call. When they arrived at the house, Dejuan Yourse was sitting on the porch.

Body cameras on both Cole and his partner captured what happened next, now described by police as Cole using excessive force on Yourse, who wasn’t injured.

“I wouldn’t dare as a chief tell anyone this kinda thing never happens,” Greensboro Police Chief Wayne Scott told FOX8 Monday. “We have around 900 employees, over 680 sworn police officers on any given day getting dozens and dozens of calls and interactions. But what they can be assured of is we take this very serious.”

Last Tuesday night, Greensboro City Council got the opportunity to view the body camera video and voted to release it to the public.

“Well, it’s horrible! And I say this as a white male representative,” said Greensboro City Councilman Mike Barber last week.

“I was very concerned and disturbed about what I saw,” Westmoreland said.

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Dejuan Yourse

Cole had resigned from the Greensboro Police Department in August in light of the investigation. Because he resigned, charges against him were dropped. But he would still be able to work in law enforcement elsewhere.

During Monday’s press conference, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan apologized to Yourse, who was in attendance, calling the incident “ugly.” She read a resolution calling for the permanent suspension of Cole’s law enforcement certification.  The resolution passed by council members 8-0.

Numerous people spoke after the resolution, saying the resolution was not enough.

This is not the first time Cole has been in trouble with the department. In August 2014, Devin and Rufus Scales were arrested by Cole for blocking traffic on an empty street, public intoxication and resisting arrest.

Devin recorded his brother being handcuffed without incident, sparking questions about why he was charged. Those charges were eventually dropped and Cole was suspended.

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