N.J. cops questioned over amateur rap video IRVINGTON, N.J., March 12 (UPI) -- A New Jersey police officer who made a rap video calling himself a "felon for life" said he may face disciplinary action from his department. The video "Temper Like An Alcoholic," was posted to YouTube last year and obtained by The (Newark) Star-Ledger in January. It shows Irvington police officer Maurice Gattison as emcee and three other officers as his entourage. Gattison, calling himself "Gat the Great," warns in lyrics other rappers might have to "meet (his) Smith & Wesson." At issue is whether Gattison, who makes no reference to his day job in the video, is protected under the First Amendment or if department policies that govern officers' conduct were violated. "The Irvington Police Department has standards of conduct that apply to on-duty and off-duty behavior," police Director Joseph Santiago said. Those standards have consistently been applied in circumstances where the officer's private behavior undermines the police department's position in the community or creates the impression that its members may not be able to fairly enforce the law. For his part, Gattison said his part-time music hobby was well known in the department. He was even asked by a superior to perform at the department's Christmas party. Gattison said the lyrics aren't meant as a threat. "I'm not doing nothing to nobody," he said. I could see if I was targeting somebody, but it's just lyrical exercise. At least one expert agrees. Wayne Fisher, the former deputy director of the state division of criminal justice who wrote many of New Jersey's guidelines on police discipline, said the only thing the officers did wrong was pick a controversial medium. If they had taken part in a Shakesperean play, and the character talked about murdering people, would there be any outrage? Fisher asked. In this instance, their First Amendment rights trump anything else.