Sunrise Police Sergeant Relieved of Duty After Grabbing Officer by the Throat

Sunrise, Florida — A police sergeant with the Sunrise Police Department has been relieved of his duties following a troubling incident in which he was caught on body camera footage grabbing a fellow officer by the throat. The confrontation, which occurred during an arrest in November but has only recently come to light, has sparked widespread criticism and raised serious concerns about use of force, internal culture, and leadership within the department.

Incident Caught on Camera

According to official reports, the incident occurred on November 19, 2021, during a drug-related arrest. Several officers, including Sergeant Christopher Pullease, responded to the scene where a suspect had been taken into custody and placed in a patrol vehicle. The atmosphere was tense as officers attempted to maintain control of the situation.

Body camera footage, later released to the public, shows Sgt. Pullease arriving at the scene and behaving aggressively. As the suspect sat handcuffed in the back of the patrol car, Pullease reportedly escalated the situation by yelling and allegedly threatening the suspect. A 28-year-old female officer, who has not been named for safety reasons, intervened by gently pulling the sergeant by the back of his duty belt in an effort to de-escalate the situation.

What happened next shocked the department and the wider public. Sgt. Pullease quickly turned around, placed his hand around the female officer’s throat, and pushed her backward toward a nearby patrol car. The physical contact, which lasted only seconds, was immediately met with alarm by fellow officers.

Administrative Action Taken

Shortly after the incident, the officer reported the altercation to her superiors. The department launched an internal affairs investigation, and Sgt. Pullease was promptly relieved of his supervisory duties and placed on administrative leave. As of now, he has not been criminally charged, but the incident remains under investigation by both the Sunrise Police Department and an outside agency to ensure impartiality.

Sunrise Police Chief Anthony Rosa addressed the public in a press conference last week, condemning the sergeant’s behavior as “disgusting and unprofessional.”

“We are proud of the courage shown by the young officer who stepped in,” Chief Rosa said. “We do not—and will not—tolerate behavior that undermines the integrity of our department or puts our officers at risk.”

Chief Rosa further emphasized that the officer who intervened acted in accordance with the department’s duty-to-intervene policy, a standard adopted by many departments nationwide in the wake of the 2020 killing of George Floyd.

Public and Professional Reactions

The footage quickly spread across social media and was covered extensively by local and national news outlets. Advocacy groups, civil rights leaders, and citizens have expressed outrage at the sergeant’s actions, as well as support for the young officer who stepped in.

“I applaud the bravery of this female officer,” said Tameka Green, a local activist and founder of the Broward Accountability Coalition. “We always call for officers to police themselves, and this is exactly the kind of action we want to see. It’s shameful that she was met with violence instead of support.”

Meanwhile, police union representatives have urged the public to allow the investigation to run its course. “Everyone deserves due process,” said union spokesperson Frank Martinez. “But we don’t condone any behavior that crosses the line—especially toward another officer.”

A Larger Conversation

The incident has reignited national conversations about police accountability, internal culture, and the importance of officers intervening when fellow officers act inappropriately. Many have noted that the sergeant’s behavior appeared to reflect not just an individual lapse in judgment but also deeper cultural issues that require systemic change.

Experts in policing and organizational behavior point out that a sergeant, as a supervisor, holds special responsibility for modeling appropriate conduct.

“Leadership in law enforcement is about setting the standard, not undermining it,” said Dr. Karen Salazar, a criminology professor at Florida State University. “When a supervisor lashes out like this, it creates fear, erodes trust, and undermines morale within the ranks.”

The Road Ahead

As the investigation continues, the future of Sgt. Pullease within the Sunrise Police Department remains uncertain. Meanwhile, the female officer who intervened is reportedly still on active duty and has received support from both colleagues and the public for her courage.

City officials have announced plans to review the department’s training programs, particularly around de-escalation, supervisory conduct, and intervention policies. The goal, according to Mayor Michael Ryan, is to ensure that such an incident “never happens again.”

“This is a teachable moment, not just for Sunrise but for every law enforcement agency in the country,” said Mayor Ryan. “We must demand better from those sworn to serve and protect—not only the public but each other.”

As of now, no timeline has been set for the conclusion of the internal investigation. The department has pledged full transparency once the findings are complete.