Michigan police officer resigns amid Confederate flag investigation
Published 3:52 pm Tuesday, November 15, 2016
- "It is a fear that some people will never know," said Marshall Collins, here speaking to Friday's "Love Trumps Hate" rally at the Open Space, after a group of Donald Trump supporters arrived in a truck flying a Confederate flag and carrying pro-Trump signs.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A Michigan police officer under investigation for displaying a Confederate battle flag and drinking a beer outside an anti-Donald Trump rally has resigned as photographs of the incident circulated worldwide.
Officer Michael Peters announced his resignation Monday at about 6 p.m., said Traverse City Manager Marty Colburn.
“He apologized to the community and for the stain he put on the city,” Colburn said. “He apologized to the Traverse City Police Department for the stain he put on the police department. I believe that apology was very sincere.”
Peters parked his pickup truck near a “Love Trumps Hate” rally Friday evening, climbed out and drank a beer. He was suspended from active duty and rebuked by Traverse City Police Chief Jeff O’Brien in a Sunday morning Facebook post.
“I hear you!” O’Brien wrote. “Let me assure you that we hold our officers to a higher standard and the flag incident will be fully investigated.”
Though Peters has resigned, his behavior remains under investigation, Colburn said.
Thompson writes for the Traverse City, Michigan Record-Eagle.
