Topics: apologizes, fired, mayor, police, Puerto Rican Parade, punch

The Philadelphia Police Department has launched an internal investigation after video shows a commanding officer striking a woman at the Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Philly mayor apologizes, cop gets fired for punching woman at Puerto Rican Parade

by Associated Press Follow @NBCLatino

10:56 am on 10/05/2012

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia’s mayor is apologizing to a woman shown on video being punched by a police lieutenant at a parade last weekend.

Mayor Michael Nutter said Thursday he has seen the video about 20 times and is “sickened” and “ashamed” by what happened.

His apology comes a day after the police commissioner announced Lt. Jonathan Josey was being suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.

A 36-second video posted online shows Aida Guzman being struck in the face and falling to the ground, her face bloodied, and then being led away in handcuffs. Police say people had been throwing liquid at officers during a celebration at the city’s Puerto Rican Day parade.

Prosecutors have withdrawn a disorderly conduct charge against Guzman.

The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police has said Josey is eager to speak to internal investigators.

Linda M. Leake:

October 5, 2012 at 6:02 pm

He thought he would get away with it like the others lying about disorderly conduct when it was he who had disorderly conduct & it cost him his job, as it should be, I bet he'll think 2x's before he punch anyone else.

Blanca Martinez:

October 5, 2012 at 11:35 pm

No excuses for punching a woman in the face even if she had disordelyc onduct, you the police are there to restore the order, teaching us how to do it without punching each other.