Looks like the San Francisco Police Department has kind of a mess on its hands.
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon announced yesterday that his office had discovered even more racist and homophobic texts by city police officers, in addition to the several that were uncovered last year.
Related: Nefarious Cop Busted For Exposing His Penis To Unsuspecting Male Motorists
The texting scandal began when 14 SFPD officers were outed for exchanging racist and homophobic texts with one another between 2014 and 2015. Now, Gascon says five more officers have been discovered engaging in offensive messaging, writing texts that “used the N-word profusely and were also derogatory toward members of the LGBT community.”
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“It is horrifying from a purely operational point: Here we go again, having to spend a lot of time trying to figure out how many cases were impacted,” Gascon said at a press conference. “On a moral level, it is also horrifying because it shows that racial and homophobic bias is impacting the quality of the administration of justice.”
The previous scandal led to a total of 13 pending criminal cases being dismissal. Despite this, no officers were fired because a judge ruled the department had waited too long to discipline them.
In response to yesterday’s bombshell, the SFPD released a statement saying it “acted immediately” to reprimand the officers involved in the scandal, though two of them had since left the department and therefore could not be disciplined.
Martin Halloran, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, issued a statement in response to “the appalling racist behavior committed by a handful of officers.”
“They have disgraced the uniform and their profession,” Halloran said. “This conduct will not be tolerated in the SFPD nor in the POA. Chief Suhr has the full support of the POA to take appropriate disciplinary action that protects the due process rights of the officers.”
Related: Christopher Kohrs, AKA The Hot Cop Of Castro, Arrested For Hit-And-Run Over Holiday Weekend
h/t: LA Times
Juanjo
No surprise concerning this. There are unfortunately a large number of SFPD who do not like minorities, especially Black folks and gays. The SFPD like many police departments is really like a big frat house. They hang together no matter what and they cover for each other. If they are careful about what they say or do and do not screw up too bad then they are guaranteed to make it up to a nice rank at which time they can take retirement at a nice rate and go back to their house in the suburbs. A sizeable number of them do not like the rules and procedure they have to follow and they basically phone in their job.
It makes it hard on those who are serious about their jobs and are really tryiing to do their jobs.
Spike
Just cops being cops. Putting them in uniform makes them no less racist or homophobes when they are out of uniform. Only thing shocking is they are getting called out on this.l I’m sure their Union will find some way to make it go away with no consequences.
DCguy
Police used to be trained to protect and serve. Now they seem to be trained that the public is their enemy and they are exempt from the law. No wonder so many seem to hate the people they are supposed to serve.
eagledancer
@Juanjo: The SigO and I used to live in SF. We moved to Arizona for him to finish his degree. The republican controlled state government is trying to push through a bill that would authorize retired police officers and sheriffs and their ilk to be able to carry weapons into bars: “Republican Rep. Sonny Borrelli sponsored the measure that would allow retired sheriffs and police officers who served at least 10 years and were honorably discharged to carry their firearm into bars and stores that sell liquor.
Advocates say retired officers should be trusted and are some of the best people to handle the volatile situations that can happen while people are drinking alcohol.
The Senate adopted House Bill 2030 on a 19-8 vote. It still needs a final House vote before moving to the governor’s desk.”
My first thought isn’t about how amazingly trustworthy retired police officers and sheriffs are–it’s more about my being a clinical psychologist well aware of the high rates of alcoholism and depression among retired police officers. Now Arizona will let them stayed armed and looking for “volatile situations.”
AtticusBennett
there are two types of police officer: those who have a genuine passion to serve and protect the public. and people who got Cs and Ds in high school and want to have a badge so they can legally bully people.
Brian
Ahhhh, liberal San Francisco strikes again. Beneath the fake gay-friendly exterior lies a bunch of liberals with very anti-gay views.
slymteo
@Brian:
As opposed to Brian, who hates gay people and is Conservative. No PC make believe there. Brian’s just a self-loathing homophobe with no life.
Perhaps if he had stable, liberal people in his life, he would have had a chance.
Brian, we know you’ve never been to SF. Because you don’t like accepting places. You thrive on that persecution complex.
DCguy
@Brian:
So you hate women and liberals.
Name something you actually like Brian.
Glücklich
@Brian:
Brian, give me your address in Birmingham or Montgomery or wherever in Alabama you live and I’ll send this right to you. A special gift from all of us on Queerty to you.
http://carbusters.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2010/12/Monoxitube_Car_Image.jpg
Or just try to kiss that rabid possum “o’er yonder” and don’t seek medical attention, you missed abortion appointment, you.
Chris
WOW; I’m saddened by this. I thought that, of all places, San Francisco’s police would be a bit more enlightened.
However, given the training that police seem to receive across the board — focused on confrontations where they come out on top due to the exercise of overwhelming force and civilian deaths are unfortunate but necessary — I should not be as surprised as I was.
Chris Tan
That’s why gay studies need to be incorporated in all high school curriculum! We do not expect straight parents to teach their kids about gay marriage!