‘Disgusted': Image on Park Police officer's shirt sparks controversy
The attorney representing the family of a man killed during a chase by U.S. Park Police said she is “disgusted” by an image seen printed on the back of an officer’s shirt.
The graphic depicts two skeletons dressed as Park Police officers standing over a skeleton in handcuffs next to an overturned, wrecked car.
Park Police confirmed that the image is authentic and was worn by one of its officers.
An anonymous source sent the picture to News4 and said it was taken Friday inside D.C. Superior Court. They also emailed the image to the attorney representing Nolberto Meza, who was killed on the Taft Bridge on June 20.
“We knew exactly what they were trying to say, which is that they don’t see this as a dangerous thing. They see this as something to wear like a badge of honor,” Elizabeth White, Meza’s attorney, said. “The fact that an officer would wear that into a courthouse, into a court of law — knowing that the public was going to see that, the same public that they are policing — I was horrified.”
Park Police did not dispute the officer was wearing the shirt in Superior Court.
The command staff was unaware of the image on the shirt until News4 brought it to their attention. The agency understands how the image may be perceived by the public, according to a statement from a Park Police spokesperson.
The shirt was made for personal use out of a photo taken last summer, Park Police said in the statement. “We will not provide further detail into this personnel matter, the issue was immediately addressed and reinforced throughout USPP.”
Since Park Police relaxed its policy on pursuits in August 2025, officers have been involved in two chases that ended in fatalities.
Meza — a food delivery driver — was killed when the driver of a car police were chasing crossed the line on the Taft Bridge and crashed into him on a moped. Josue Chavez, 18, was killed in March when police said he fled a traffic stop on Hains Point and crashed into a tree.
“The fact that they would go around and wear a shirt like that and brag about their behavior is insulting,” White said. “It demonstrates everything that I work against and that the community has said that they don’t want anymore.”
Park Police would not say what was communicated to the force about the shirt.
News4 has been unable to identify the officer who was wearing it.
The Park Police union didn’t respond to a request for comment. The anonymous source who sent the image to News4 also didn’t respond to a request for comment.
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