Ramping up his inquiries? PC shows off his roller skating skills to ‘engage with the kids’ but critics say he should have been ‘out catching criminals’ instead
- West Midlands PC Demetrius Washington visited a skate park in Birmingham
- Took time away from investigating robberies to show off his roller skating skills
- Moment shared on Stechford Police twitter to show him ‘engage with the kids’
- But followers criticised the officer over the stunt saying he ‘should have been out catching criminals’
A police officer has been scorned on social media after video footage of him roller skating while on a patrol went viral.
PC Demetrius Washington was recorded by colleagues showing off his skills on a half pipe at a skate park in Birmingham over the weekend.
But some web users were quick to slam the officer for taking time off from his duties while he ‘should have been out catching criminals.’
West Midlands Police said PC Washington had been on patrol investigating a spate of robberies in Stechford, Birmingham, when he decided to ‘engage with the kids.’
Stechford Police posted on Twitter: ‘Conducting patrols in Oaklands Rec in relation to recent robberies and engaging with the kids, PC Washington thought it would be good to dust the skates off and show them how it’s really done.’
The video has attracted a mix response on social media with some praising his ‘impressive’ tricks while others questioned the use of police time.
West Midlands PC Demetrius Washington was recorded by colleagues showing off his skills on a half pipe at a skate park in Birmingham over the weekend
Charlie Miles shared the link on Facebook and wrote: ‘Hate how cops always get praised for this, but if I popped off from work to do this, I’d get the sack.
‘Surely he should have been out catching criminals and investigating the burglaries. Waste of police time if you ask me.’
While Gavin Fletcher commented: ‘Engaging with the kids? Mucking around on shift more like. Get back to the day job mate.’
The officer, with Stechford Police, performed an impressive set of stunts, and even had a go at a handstand, during the time from investigating a series of robberies in the area
But Sharon Roberts posted on Twitter: ‘Go PC Washington, community engagement is so important.
‘I hope you get to go down again and engage with these young people. Impressive skating.’
Matthew Bowater said: ‘Skills. Cracking way to engage with kids. Glad he did not fall not having a helmet on.’
Charlie Miles shared the video, writing: ‘Hate how cops always get praised for this, but if I popped off from work to do this, I’d get the sack’