US cop offers driver leniency in exchange for buying fundraiser tickets

A US cop has been caught on camera purportedly demanding a driver buy tickets to a police fundraiser or face having his car impounded.

An officer, named by Inquisitr as Matthew Zagursky, was secretly filmed by a Philadelphia man who goes by the name Rob Stay Faded online.

“You and your friend got any money to buy these Hero Thrill show tickets?,” Mr Zagursky casually said in the clip, uploaded to Facebook on Thursday.

“Support your local police department. Ten bucks each man.

“Either you buy these, or I take your car, because it’s unregistered.”

The October 10 event raises money and support for local police and fire services.

After the driver bought two tickets at US$10 a piece, Mr Zagursky demanded his passenger also get in on the act.

“Support cops like me,” he said.

“Instead of taking your s---, you’re walking.

“Let him buy one too, or I’ll take your s---.”

The video has been viewed more than a million times since it was posted.

In a second video, the officer also appeared to make homophobic slurs over the driver’s windscreen wipers.

Mr Faded wrote online he had replaced the wipers with a pink version to support breast cancer, which he said affected his grandmother.

“What’s up with the f------ a—wipers?” Mr Zagursky said.

“But can’t you support breast cancer in another way?

“You look like a fruitcake.”

Mr Zagursky has been taken off street patrol pending an internal Philadelphia Police Department inquiry.

Local Police Chief Charles Ramsey has since put out a memo to staff urging officers to be polite in offering the tickets.

“We encourage the support of the police and fire Hero Thrill Show,” the message reportedly read.

“Remember, however, all ticket sales should be voluntary, and under no circumstances should someone feel under duress during a ticket exchange.”