The Harrison Police Department has issued a cautionary statement regarding a falsified viral video depicting Officer Robert Budde.
Police Chief John Vasta says the video, circulating online, falsely portrays Budde in an interaction involving an officer from another jurisdiction.
The chief clarified that the video is likely a deepfake, as Budde's image was manipulated from social media and superimposed onto another body, creating the misleading impression.
The department emphasized its complete noninvolvement in this incident, affirming that it did not occur within the town of Harrison. Attempts to reach out to the police department for further details regarding the video's content have not yielded a response.
Vasta's message urged vigilance and awareness among the public regarding the video's misrepresented content. The Harrison Police Department is actively working to have the video removed from online platforms.