Officer who told motorist "We only kill black people" steps down

COBB COUNTY, Ga. – A Georgia police lieutenant will retire after he was seen on video during a traffic stop telling a motorist, "We only kill black people."

Dashcam video from July 2016 shows a woman in a car telling Cobb County police Lt. Greg Abbott she was scared to move her hands in order to get her cellphone. According to the video first obtained by television station WSB-TV, Abbott, who is also white, interrupts her and says, "But you're not black. Remember, we only shoot black people. Yeah. We only kill black people, right?" 

Police Chief Mike Register told reporters Thursday that he had started the process to terminate Abbott's employment. Friday, Abbott's lawyer announced he would retire, reports CBS affiliate WGCL.

Register said the comments were inappropriate regardless of the context in which they were uttered.

"I don't know what's in his heart, but I certainly know what came out of his mouth," Register said. "It's inexcusable, and we have to take appropriate action."

Register said he learned of the comments from television station WSB on Friday, which obtained the video through an open records request. Abbott had been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

The attorney said earlier said Abbott is cooperating with the investigation, and that his comments were meant to "de-escalate a situation involving an uncooperative passenger."