A Washington rookie cop is under fire after posting a video on social media bragging about being above the law. The civil servant’s thoughtless comments got her suspended from the force for a short time, causing some to question if her comments were actually true.
On or around Friday, July 1, Federal Way police Officer Breanna Straus posted the video to TikTok, seemingly bragging about being able to break the law and not be held accountable because of her position within the force. She captioned it, “I’m not the only one thinking it.” The video resurfaced on Reddit, renewing the outrage.
She, despite only working less than a year as an officer, said she uses her authority on citizens who didn’t show her the respect she believes she deserves.
As a result of her viral “public service announcement,” she received a 10-hour unpaid suspension, which is the equivalent of being shorted pay for a single shift.
One of the messages she was so lightly punished for was that if a motorist sees an officer on the freeway driving behind them, they should “get the f*ck out the way” a refrain she says repeatedly throughout the video.
She also says if you don’t move, eventually, you will suffer the consequence of getting pulled over because they will find a reason to do so.
“I can go 90 miles,” Strauss said. “You can’t. You can’t do it, so get the f*ck out of the way.”
She continued, “If us officers stay behind you long enough, we can find a reason to pull you over so you might as well get the f*ck out of the way. Super simple, that’s all, you’re welcome.”
Strauss punctuated the video with a finger snap.
At the time of the publishing of the video, the police department moved swiftly to distance themselves from the officer’s flipped comments.
“The Federal Way Police Department stresses professionalism in every aspect of our mission and does not tolerate actions by any employee, on or off duty, that would tarnish the reputation of the agency,” the press statement read. “We value the trust that our community has in the
Federal Way Police Department and we strive each day to earn and maintain the public’s trust.”
It continued, “We have viewed the social media video posted by Officer Straus and can assure you that it does not represent the core values and practices of our police department. The Federal Way Police have a reputation of being respectful, courteous, and professional and are focused on serving the community at the highest level.”
“This matter is currently being investigated administratively for policy violations and appropriate personnel actions will be taken. Working for FWPD, in any capacity, is an honor and privilege and we are held by the public, our industry, and ourselves to the highest standards of behavior and trust,” it concluded.
According to the Federal Way Mirror, Strauss was suspended for one day’s work for two conduct violations after a six-day investigation, according to the Federal Way Police Department (FWPD).
Cmdr. Kurt Schwan of Federal Way Police said the department concluded their review on Thursday, July 7, looking into the ways she possibly violated the FWPD’s standards and determining how she should be dealt with based on any previous disciplinary issues.
Many on social media were outraged at the slap on the wrist she received for her comments.
“There are many of us that feel she is out of line; especially on duty while in uniform! Such an abuse of authority! PSAs to the general public don’t use profanity nor do they threaten! I took her so-called PSA as such! Too bad for B STRAUS of Federal Way City Police Service,” one person tweeted.
Another person wrote, “And all that she got was a 10-hour suspension, one shift. She needs to be fired and never allowed in any position of authority.”
Sunny Brooke seems to not believe she was suspended at all, saying, “The arrogance [displayed by Straus] is disgusting.”
Others used comedy to express their feelings about the situation.
An investigation determined Straus violated the FWPD’s Code of Conduct in two areas of social media conduct and personal conduct. This was the first time Straus had ever received a mark on her record, one started when she was hired on Aug. 9, 2021.
“We had not received any complaints against Officer Straus regarding arrests, citations, or traffic stops,” Schwan said.
Since being reprimanded, Straus has deleted her TikTok account.
