Last week, Los Angeles Police Department chief Michel Moore said that a categorical use of force investigation has been launched into the arrest of Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes. Hayes was arrested last week in Los Angeles after an alleged altercation with officers who responded to a report of a domestic dispute.
However, a letter was sent out by the Los Angeles Police Protective League to commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA demanding that they take action on Hayes for his actions.
The police union says 6’11, 220-pound Hayes became combative and criminally assaulted an officer during the arrest.
“Mr. Silver,” the officers said in the letter, “the actions of your player were unlawful, completely unacceptable and are as clear a prima facie case of violating several of the National Basketball Association policies as we have seen.”
“We respectfully request that you immediately initiate a thorough investigation into Mr. Hayes’ actions before, during and after the incident and to take appropriate corrective action to hold Mr. Hayes accountable.”
“The video is clear. Your swift action in this incident is warranted.”
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The union is also upset that Hayes said the n-word towards cops and it should be on the same level as when NBA player Meyers Leonard used an anti-Semitic slur during a March video game stream.
“We ask you to investigate Mr. Hayes’ use of the ‘N-word’ during the incident,” cops said, “and based on the obvious evidence, hold him accountable for the blatant violation of the NBA’s values of ‘equality, tolerance, inclusion and respect.’”
LAPPL concluded the letter asking Silver and the NBA to “send an unequivocal message that assaulting police officers will never be tolerated by the NBA.”
“Given the severity of this incident, we sincerely hope you take decisive action in this case.”
The 21-year-old was the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He averaged 7.5 points per game in 60 appearances last season.