Cringe TikTok Gets LA Cop Fired - Watch Now

An employee of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department posted cringe and lied about it. Repeatedly. It was enough to get him fired.

Gizmodo Cont.

Ivan D. Sarabia-Medina was a cop with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for 16 years before his TikTok videos got him fired. Sarabia-Medina loved being a police officer, but he loved posting more. When he was caught posting on the job, he lied about doing it. The lies were obvious, stupid, and easily checked. His career as a law enforcement is now over, but his TikToks live on thanks to a playlist put together by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training

The saddest thing about Sarabia-Medina’s TikTok career is that it wasn’t very good. Investigators saved 16 separate videos they used to end the man’s career and they’re all pretty similar. Sarabia-Medina appears in full uniform, often in his patrol car or the police station, and he mugs for the camera for a few seconds.

Cataloging the weapons he has access to is a common theme. “These are good right here,” Sarabia-Medina says, showing off stun grenades. “You want to keep that pin in there at all times.” The camera pans to show a paintball-style gun that launches pellets filled with pepper powder. “And, of course, the pepperball. That’s a fun one too. So. Cool. Let’s do it.”

In another video Sarabia-Medina is also in full uniform while he spins around in an office chair. The words “HIT THE LIKE BUTTON TIKTOK!” float above his head. “What are you doing,” he says, bending over the camera. “Why are you not hitting the like button? Come on. Go ahead. Like it. There you go.” He leans back and spins in his chair again.

A third video shows Sarabia-Medina going through an In-N-Out drive-thru to pick up a Flying Dutchman. “IN & OUT FLYING DUTCHMAN 50% OFF, THANK YOU SIR!” read the words floating above the cop’s head. Then he sits in the drive-thru while the unseen cashier tells him that they’re working on his discount.

Documents about the investigation make it clear that Sarabia-Medina was in trouble for the TikToks, but what got him fired was lying to internal affairs when they started to look into it. According to the documents, internal affairs began an investigation after a retired LASD sergeant noticed the TikToks and called to complain. After IA started going through the videos they found several problems.

“The videos showed Respondent activating a taser in his hand while in uniform and in a police vehicle. Respondent was also seen inside the Walnut Station (Respondent’s duty station) critiquing another TikTok user’s video related to search and seizure. Respondent made additional TikTok videos while inside Walnut Station, one such video was filmed in the station armory and showed Respondent manipulating a shotgun in his hands and another video manipulating a less-lethal weapon and pointing it at the camera. Respondent made other videos from the interior of his patrol vehicle which showed his Mobile Digital Computer (MDC), the vehicle’s takedown lights illuminating the exterior of the vehicle and showing the interior of the vehicle and the vehicle’s inventory of weapons. Respondent recorded himself receiving a gratuity in the form of a discounted meal while on duty, in a police vehicle, and in full department uniform. The LASD reviewed a total of 26 TikTok videos for their investigation.”