OKLAHOMA CITY — Several Oklahoma City police officers have been suspended pending an internal investigation into a false emergency report made on April 1st that prompted multiple squad cars to respond to what they believed was a baby being thrown from a moving vehicle.
Police Captain Valerie Littlejohn acknowledged Monday that department officials are conducting a comprehensive review of the incident but declined to specify the number of officers currently on administrative leave or elaborate on the specific allegations they face.
“We are aware of a reported pursuit involving some of our officers that included serious claims, which has since been determined to be false,” Littlejohn said in a statement. “We take this situation seriously and are committed to ensuring a thorough review is conducted.”
The department launched its investigation after local television station KFOR and other media outlets obtained and broadcast police radio communications from April 1st. In the recordings, a dispatcher can be heard informing responding units that “the city just advised that the suspect threw a baby out the window.”
“The police officer that’s in pursuit does not have a radio. He’s just messaging his location,” the dispatcher says.
Following the deployment of multiple officers to the scene, the radio traffic reveals the moment the truth was discovered when a dispatcher announces: “It was an April Fools’ prank.”
Another dispatcher responds: “Not funny.”
Attempts to reach the Oklahoma City police union president for comment on Monday were unsuccessful.
Under Oklahoma state law, deliberately providing false information that could trigger the deployment of emergency responders constitutes a misdemeanor offense. Those convicted face potential fines up to $500 plus reimbursement for any expenses incurred by emergency services during their response.
