Never Taught Not to Use Profanity, Officer Testifies

A former Long Beach police officer charged with assault testified Wednesday that he was taught to control potentially dangerous situations by “whatever (was) necessary,” including profanity.

An officer’s goal is “to make sure you go home that night,” Mark Dickey said during his first day of testimony in Long Beach Municipal Court. Dickey is accused of pushing activist Don Jackson through a window after a routine traffic stop in 1989. The incident was secretly videotaped by NBC and aired nationally.

Dickey, who is heard cursing on the videotape, said that he preferred to use profanity rather than force. “We were never taught to not use (obscenities),” Dickey testified. “If officer safety is at issue, I’ll use it.” Dickey also testified that his goal since childhood had been to become a police officer, but the Jackson incident killed his career. Dickey is scheduled to resume testimony today.