A TEXAS STATE trooper has been slapped on the wrist for associating with a known criminal after he was photographed next to rapper Snoop Dogg.
The trooper, Billy Spears, was on duty at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin when Dogg, who has several convictions for drug possession, reportedly asked for the photo.
The rapper, also known as Snoop Lion and Snoopzilla at various stages in his career, later posted the photo to his 4.4 million Instagram followers with the comment: “Me n my deputy dogg”.
After learning of the photo, the Texas Department of Public Safety cited Spears for deficiencies that require counselling by a supervisor.
His attorney said the trooper didn’t know about the rapper’s criminal record, but as the citation wasn’t a formal disciplinary action the officer had no right of appeal.
One Instagram user, who claimed the trooper was her uncle, commented on the image: “Now I wish someone could pleases tell me what is so wrong.”
“He is the kindest sweetest person I know. I love that man with all of my heart and he loves his job. If they want to take it away because he took a pic with a rapper then I just feel bad for the department. They don’t know what they are missing out on.”
A long rap sheet
Dogg, real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr, was first jailed on drug charges after leaving high school, while in 1993 he was charged over the murder of a man his bodyguard shot dead.
Both accused men were cleared after the killing was ruled self-defence.
Dogg was banned from entering Australia for the MTV music awards in 2007 on the basis of his criminal convictions, although he has since been allowed to perform in the country.
The rapper was also photographed with an Austin policewoman and a department spokeswoman said officers were banned from associating with known criminals, but the image didn’t constitute ”inappropriate association.”
- With additional reporting from AP
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