A Fresno police officer is under investigation after he was spotted in photos and video posted online over the weekend that appear to show him affiliating with members of the far-right Proud Boys group at a protest, according to law enforcement officials.
The officer, identified by the Fresno Bee as Rick Fitzgerald, is on paid leave as the investigation goes forward. The Fresno Police Department and mayor’s office declined to release the officer’s name, saying it would be a violation of rights afforded to members of the force.
For weeks, protesters have arrived every Sunday to decry the sale of the Tower Theater to an evangelical church that some perceive as intolerant of the gay community. The Proud Boys reportedly arrived to counter protest.