Fort Lauderdale police officer faces firing after alleged racist behavior, city says

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — A Fort Lauderdale police officer is under scrutiny and is seeking his resignation following accusations of racist behavior over the past year, authorities confirmed Friday.

John Giga, who served as an officer with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department for 16 years, has a history of disciplinary issues dating back to 2013, court records show.

The NAACP and public defender's office are now calling for his immediate termination after an internal investigation into an incident that occurred on Thanksgiving 2023.

The latest incident, which prompted calls for his firing, was partially captured on surveillance video obtained by Local 10 News.

Authorities say surveillance video shows Giga engaging in what they described as “aggressive and racist behavior.”

Investigators say the night of the incident, Giga was seen arriving at a parking lot, apparently after drinking, and began using racial slurs toward certain black individuals.

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 sidewalk.

According to reports, before the altercation, Giga allegedly used his patrol car to drive to several bars, where he allegedly drank and harassed a woman via text message. The woman, frightened by his behavior, hid from him when he arrived at the bar, authorities said.

An internal investigation into the incident led the police chief to recommend Giga be fired. Now, the NAACP and the public defender's office are echoing that recommendation.

“This guy has no respect for the rules, the safety of others or the dignity of the community he serves,” Broward County Public Defender Gordon Weekes said.

“There is no place in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department for racist officers. We hope he no longer continues to wear the uniform,” said Marsha Ellison, president of the Broward County branch of the NAACP.

Fort Lauderdale Interim City Manager Susan Grant released a statement Friday saying, “The Chief of Police has issued a recommendation for the termination of Officer John Giga following an internal investigation. The City Manager will review the Chief's findings and recommendation and will continue to follow the established disciplinary appeal process. Agent Giga remains on administrative leave with pay during this process. »

Weekes announced plans to review cases involving Giga, with six cases already identified for further review.

Local 10 News viewers can read Giga's disciplinary history while working as an FLPD officer in the document below.