Ofc. fired for using 'unnecessary force'

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons confirms one of his officers was fired Friday, after review of his patrol car’s dash cam revealed he used unnecessary force while making a recent arrest.

Officer Christopher Geraci had been on leave while his superiors reviewed the video. Friday, he was arrested and charged with battery.

 “This type of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Chief Simmons.

Simmons tells FOX10 the review was not the result of a complaint. Instead, he said Geraci filed a ‘Use of Force’ report, leading authorities to examine the video.  

Investigators said the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. August 2 when Geraci responded to a hit and run crash at D and Cervantes streets.

The driver – identified as Abbi Bonds, 29, of Pensacola – was found with the car on North C Street. According to police reports, the car had heavy front end damage and was disabled.

The video shows during a verbal exchange between Geraci and Bonds, Geraci approached Bonds and grabbed her by her left arm. He then forcibly slung her into the side of the car and grabbed the back of her head and forced it into the top of the vehicle while placing her in handcuffs.

“My opinion was, in watching the video, that the level of resistance did not warrant the force that was used. It’s as simple as that,” said the Chief.

Bonds was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, failure
to yield, driving under the influence, and not having proof of insurance.

Geraci, 33, was hired by the department as a cadet on March 1, 2004 and promoted to police officer on March 14, 2005. He presently was assigned to the department’s K-9 Unit in the Uniform Patrol Division.