Captain James French of the Oklahoma City Police Department is seen in police body camera footage during his arrest for impaired driving on Sunday, March 12, 2023. (Screen grab from video by Oklahoma City Police Department)
An Oklahoma City police captain pulled over on suspicion of DUI in his unmarked city-owned SUV, repeatedly asked an officer to turn off his body camera before his arrest, video shows.
In body camera video released Thursday by the Oklahoma City Police Department, Sgt. Christopher Skinner arrests Captain James French, 55, after seeing the SUV he was driving accelerate and swerve early on Sunday, police said.
In the video, French gets out of his SUV in a driveway with his hands in the air.
“Stay in your vehicle. Get back in your car,” Skinner told him.
French puts his hand in his pocket.
“Don’t look in your pocket,” Skinner says. “Get back in your car.”
French tells him he’s a captain in the Oklahoma City Police Department. When Skinner asks him why he stopped in the driveway, French says he lives there with his mother.
“How much must we have drunk tonight, sir?” Skinner asks.
French signals with his hand and whispers turn off the camera.
“I don’t turn off my camera,” Skinner replies and tells him to get out of the vehicle.
Skinner asks again how much he must have drunk. French says he was at a poker game and had three or four beers, the last one at midnight. It was 1:40 a.m. at the time, the video showed.
“Do you think you should drive?” Skinner asks.
“No, but I’m from four blocks away,” French says.
French appears to stumble during a field sobriety test and asks Skinner to turn off the camera.
“I can’t, sir,” Skinner said. “I know you are aware of our body camera policy.”
French repeats his request. At one point he said, “I’m a captain in this police department. »
“I understand that, sir, and I’m a sergeant in this police department. I don’t show favoritism to anyone. I don’t care if you’re a gang member or the President of the United States,” Skinner said. “I had to treat you differently than I had to treat like a South Side Loco or a pedo, how does that look on me?”
“I’m not asking that,” French said.
“Are you going to take the test or not, sir?” Skinner said.
“I will. I will do whatever you ask,” French replies.
Skinner tells French, “OK, once the test is done, I’ll turn off my body camera once I’m done with my investigation.”
“Okay,” French said.
French tries the sobriety test again, appears to stumble again, and asks the officer, “Please, I’m asking you.”
“I can’t do that,” French said.
After doing a heel-to-toe walk and turn test, French asks Skinner again, “Can I talk to you?”
Skinner has French turn around, put his hands behind his back, and handcuff him.
French was released on bail and placed on paid administrative leave.
At a press conference Thursday, Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley praised Skinner, NBC’s Oklahoma City affiliate KFOR-TV reported. “The officer did exactly what he had to,” Gourley said, according to the outlet. “I am proud of the way our officers reacted on the spot. I hate that we are in this position. I hate that for Captain French. I hate that for our organization.
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