What police department? >> Oklahoma City. >> [music] >> What division? >> Investigations. Can you turn that off? >> I cannot, sir. >> Please. >> I know you're aware of our body cam policy. You know I cannot turn off this body cam. >> I get it. >> And I am a sergeant on this police officer and I have taken an oath to uphold the law. >> I am a police officer. >> favoritism to anyone, regardless. I don't care if you're a gang banger or the president of the United States. >> Sir. >> Captain Matt French had spent his career on the other side of encounters like this. But after an officer watched his truck swerving across the road, his badge wasn't going to end the traffic stop. And before this was over, French would repeatedly ask for one thing that could have changed everything if the officer had agreed, turn off the body camera. >> Back in your car. >> I'm >> Drunk? >> No, I'm a captain. >> Huh? A what? >> Captain. >> A what? You been drinking tonight? >> I just got a ride. >> You've been drinking tonight, sir. >> I'm a captain of the police department. >> What police department? >> Oklahoma City. >> [music] >> What division? >> Investigations. >> That answer changed the encounter immediately. French wasn't just another driver pulled over after drinking. He was an Oklahoma City police captain assigned to investigations. And instead of answering whether he'd been drinking, the first thing he emphasized was his rank. >> You've been drinking? >> [music] >> Kidding me. Yeah, we're not going to get a return on it. How much did you drink tonight, sir? >> I was at a poker game. >> Uh-huh. How much did you drink at your poker game? >> Not much. >> Not much? How much is not much? >> I don't know. >> Beer? Liquor? How many beers? >> Three or four. >> Three or four? How long ago was that? >> It's been going on a while. >> You think you should be driving? >> No, but I came from four blocks. >> Now the officer had three important pieces of information. French admitted drinking three or four beers. He admitted he didn't believe he should be driving. And the officer said he'd already watched French swerving and turn without signaling. French's explanation was that he'd only driven four blocks, but distance wasn't the issue. The officer now had to decide whether the badge in front of him changed how he handled everything else. What investigations are you with? >> Homicide and assault. >> You know Lieutenant You know Lieutenant Britton? >> And there should be any discussion as to whether it should be available to >> He's a good man. I like him. >> He is. He works for Jermaine. >> Jermaine Johnson? >> Yes. >> Jermaine's a good man, too. >> He is. >> This was the kind of conversation that could make an ordinary DUI stop uncomfortable very quickly. French and the officer knew people in common, but knowing the same officers didn't change what had already happened on the road. And it wasn't going to change what came next. >> Stand with feet together, hands down by your side for me. Hands Hands down by your side, please. Don't move your head, sir. Just keep going, sir. >> I can't turn that off. >> French knew exactly what was being asked of him. That made what happened next more significant, not less. The officer moved him into the remaining field sobriety tests. >> You having those shoes impede cause you to keeping your balance or anything? >> I don't think so. >> You don't think so? Okay. I'm going to demonstrate it for you first. When I demonstrate it, I want you to stand with your feet together, hands down by your side just like this. All right, sir. What's your name? >> Matt French. >> Mr. French, stand just like that for me. >> Okay. >> When I tell you to begin when I tell you to begin, okay? I'm just going to demonstrate it for you first. I want you to pick a foot of your choosing. It doesn't matter if it's your left or your right foot. >> I'm flat-footed. >> And then I want you to lift it approximately 6 in off the ground. And while you look at your toe, I want you to count by 1,000s. 1,001, 1,002, 1,003, 1,004, 1,005, so on and so forth until I tell you to stop. At any point in time you lose your balance, your foot touches the ground, just go ahead and pick your foot back up and continue the count, okay? Do you understand these instructions I've explained to you, Mr. French? You may begin. >> 1,000 1,001, 1,002, 1,003, >> I cannot, sir. >> Please. >> I know you're aware of our body cam policy. You know I cannot turn off this body cam. >> but I'd like to talk to you. >> I can't do that, sir. >> Please. Please. I'd like to talk to you. >> One Are you going to do the test or not? >> Will you please talk to me? >> I'll talk to you once we're done. >> turn it off and you can turn it on. >> I can turn it off once I'm done with my investigation, sir. >> Okay. I'm asking you. I'm a captain on the Swiss farm. >> I understand that, sir. This was no longer a single request. French kept returning to the camera. And because he was a police captain, he already knew exactly why that officer was required to keep it recording. That's when the sergeant gave him an answer that defined the entire stop. >> I get it. >> And I am a sergeant on this police officer and I have taken an oath to uphold the law. >> I understand. >> show favoritism to anyone, regardless. I don't care if you're a gangbanger or the president of the United States. >> Sir, I'm not asking you for that. >> If I was to treat you differently than I was to treat like some Southside loco or some pedo, how's that look on me? >> Okay, I'm not asking you for that. >> Cuz I wouldn't do that for any of them. >> Sergeant, it's kind of pointless. >> Are you going to do the test or not, sir? >> I will. I will do whatever you ask. >> That was the reversal. French had identified himself as a captain. He'd mentioned people they both knew. He'd repeatedly asked for the body camera to be shut off and the sergeant's answer was that none of it mattered. If French was impaired, he was going to be treated like anyone else. >> 1 2 3 4 Sir, please. Please. I'm asking you. >> I can't do that. >> Okay. >> So, we're not going to do the test? >> We will. >> Okay, cuz you keep stopping. >> Who is this? >> One of my partners. >> French was running out of options. The tests hadn't made the situation better. The camera was still recording and another officer had now arrived. What began with French identifying himself as a captain was about to end with officers treating him as a DUI suspect. Captain Matt French was ultimately arrested and booked into his own detention center. He was later released on bond. Following the incident, French was placed on paid administrative leave while criminal and internal investigations moved forward. Department policy required administrative proceedings that could eventually place an accused officer on unpaid leave. French ultimately retired from the Oklahoma City Police Department in 2023. Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gorley later praised the responding officer for following body camera protocol. And the camera French repeatedly wanted turned off became the record of exactly how that sergeant handled one of his own. The moment French identified himself as a police captain, the sergeant had a choice. Treat him like a colleague, or treat him like the driver standing in front of him. He chose the second. If you were that sergeant, would French repeatedly asking you to turn off the body camera make you more suspicious about what he wanted to say once it stopped recording? Let us know in the comments.