IG: Park Police used excessive force against 2 journalists

U.S. Park Police officers used excessive force against two Australian journalists while clearing a protest near the White House nearly three years ago, the Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General said Wednesday.

In a report, the IG concluded that one officer violated policy by using his baton to strike a retreating reporter who did not pose a threat.

The IG said the second officer had complied with policy by using his shield to control a cinematographer because it was “objectively reasonable,” but that the same officer had not employed the “minimum level of reasonable force” when he later pushed the journalist’s camera.