FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Fort Lauderdale police officer is facing serious scrutiny and demands for his resignation following accusations of racist behavior over the past year, authorities confirmed Friday.
John Giga, who has served as an officer with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department for 16 years, has a history of disciplinary issues dating back to 2013, according to court records.
The NAACP and the public defender’s office are now calling for his immediate termination after an internal affairs investigation into an incident that occurred on Thanksgiving 2023.
The latest incident, which has prompted these calls for his firing, was partially captured on surveillance video obtained by Local 10 News.
Authorities say the surveillance video shows Giga engaging in what they described as “aggressive and racist behavior.”
Investigators say on the night of the incident, Giga was seen arriving at a parking lot, reportedly after drinking, and began using racial slurs towards some Black individuals.
The surveillance video then shows Giga following one of the cars, leading to a physical altercation that left him bloodied, authorities said. Officers responding to the scene found him bruised and lying on the pavement.
Reports indicate that before the altercation, Giga used his patrol car to visit several bars, where he drank and harassed a woman via text message. The woman, who was frightened by his behavior, hid from him when he arrived at the bar, according to authorities.
An internal affairs investigation into the incident led the chief of police to recommend Giga’s termination. Now, the NAACP and the public defender’s office are echoing this recommendation.
“This guy has no regard for any rules, anyone’s safety, or any dignity to the community that he serves,” said Broward County Public Defender Gordon Weekes.
“There’s no room on the Fort Lauderdale police force for racist officers. We expect that he will no longer continue to wear the uniform,” said Marsha Ellison, president of the Broward County branch of the NAACP.
Susan Grant, the acting city manager of Fort Lauderdale, released a statement Friday saying, “The chief of police issued a recommendation of termination for Officer John Giga following an internal affairs investigation. The city manager is reviewing the findings and the chief’s recommendation and will continue to follow the established disciplinary appeal process. Officer Giga remains on administrative leave with pay during this process.”
Weekes has announced plans to review cases involving Giga, with six cases already being identified for further scrutiny.
Local 10 News viewers can read Giga’s discipline history while working as an FLPD officer in the document below.