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Press-credential dispute and public concern over Sean Moore bodycam footage dominate public comment
Summary
Commissioners and public commenters pressed SFPD leadership over the removal of credentialed journalists from a department press conference and raised sharp concerns after body-camera footage in the Sean Moore officer-involved shooting appeared to conflict with earlier department statements.
An exchange at the Jan. 18 Police Commission meeting focused on press access and transparency after a department press conference earlier that day. An (unnamed) commissioner reported calls that a credentialed journalist, Sana Saleem of 48 Hills, had been asked to leave the press room. "We're looking for transparency and trust, and journalists are journalists," the commissioner said, adding that Saleem is a credentialed member of the press and that Code Pink activists appeared to remain in the room.
Interim Chief Tony Chaplin responded that department staff believed the credentials shown were not the department's standard credential and pledged to investigate: "My understanding was she was asked to leave because she was not properly credentialed... But we'll find out," he said.
Multiple public commenters expanded on the concern and criticized the department's handling of an officer-involved shooting involving Sean Moore. Christina Sinha, staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus, urged the commission to prioritize Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) oversight and said communities are "terrified" about federal surveillance and the need for JTTF compliance reporting. David Carlos Salaver of San Francisco for Police Accountability said he and other reporters were also excluded from the day's press event.
At least two commenters who watched the department's released body-camera footage said it contradicts the department's earlier account. "The body cam video that was released... is directly contrary to the statement that the POA put out about this incident," one commenter said. Jackie Barshak of San Franciscans for Police Accountability urged commissioners to review the footage and consider discipline or indictments, saying the video shows Sean Moore being shot inside his house during what she described as a mental-health crisis.
Chief Chaplin said he would look into credentialing questions and reiterated the department's need to follow credentialing policies; commissioners and public commenters asked for a follow-up report.
What the commission did: Commissioners did not take immediate disciplinary action at the meeting on the credential issue; Chief Chaplin agreed to investigate and report back. Public commenters repeatedly asked the commission to watch the body-cam footage and press for transparency and accountability.
