The question is why did the Cop do this?
My guesses: his “authoritah” got disrespected or he had some kind of grievance with somebody and he wanted revenge; or he was just young and dumb and did it as a joke and the Chief ran with it without checking and it got out of hand.
I can’t imagine why anyone would. Why anger a cop and risk losing your job? Why ruin an honest worker’s day at the risk of your career? But it happens and I can’t think of any good reason for anyone to do that to another.