A state prison corrections officer being investigated in a video mocking the death of George Floyd has been served removal charges.
The Department of Corrections announced that the officer is on non-pay status pending a due process hearing, which is part of the regular procedure for unionized employees.
While they have not named the officer, his union has identified him as Joseph DeMarco, according to the Associated Press.
“PBA 105 have brought union charges against Mr. DeMarco and he is suspended from our organization,” union president William Sullivan said in an email. “We do not support any member of this association that does anything outside the scope of our duties as Correctional Police Officers.”
DeMarco allegedly shot the video during a Black Lives Matter protest in Franklinville.
In video captured by Stockton University student Lexi Fagotti, a man is seen kneeling on another man in the way an officer knelt on Floyd's neck.The men are in front of trucks that have an American flag, a blue line flag and a "Trump" sign.
The man videoing is the Bayside State Prison officer, who can be heard commenting in the video.
As the protesters pass yelling, "Black lives matter," the officer adds "to no one."
After the video garnered attention, the state DOC put out a statement saying he had been suspended and banned from all of their facilities.
"I condemn this behavior in the strongest terms possible," Gov. Phil Murphy said in a tweet responding to the incident. "We won't let the actions of a few distract from our progress toward dismantling systemic racism."
