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Public testimony at Police Commission escalates over Mario Woods killing; calls for apology, firing of chief and independent probe
Summary
Family members and community groups demanded apology, financial support for funeral costs, termination of Chief Greg Sir and an independent investigation into Mario Woods's death; some retired officers defended responding officers and the chief.
Scores of public speakers used the Police Commission's public-comment periods to press for accountability and transparency in the aftermath of the police shooting of Mario Woods. Angel Van Stark, representing the Harvey Milk Democratic Club, read a statement urging a public apology to Gwendolyn Woods, payment for funeral expenses, termination of Police Chief Greg Sir and an independent federal investigation into Woods' death.
"We stand in solidarity with the family of Mario Woods and the justice for Mario Woods coalition in demanding the following actions to be taken immediately," Van Stark said, listing requested remedies and calling for anti-oppression, de-escalation and conflict-mediation training across the department.
Other speakers recounted personal loss and grief and demanded that the commission put the incident on future agendas rather than allowing it to be subsumed in a generic "chief's report." Michael Petrellas said: "You can no longer bury what happened in vague chief's reports," and urged the commission to post fuller written reports and the chief's calendar online.
Retired officers offered an alternate perspective. Retired Captain Greg Corrales urged support for Chief Greg Sir and the officers, describing the emotional and tactical difficulty of use-of-force incidents and calling them "heroes" for having to make split-second choices in dangerous situations.
John Crewe, a long-time community participant, told commissioners that accountability must include truthful public explanation of what the department knows. "If this is within policy, then policy has to change," he said, arguing the commission must enforce existing standards when appropriate.
Commissioners did not vote on personnel actions during the meeting. They acknowledged community concerns, announced a series of community forums on use-of-force policy aimed at gathering public input, and said they would follow up on transparency requests regarding minutes, reports and investigatory timelines.
The commission adjourned the meeting in memory of Officer Franco Fleming, who died Jan. 8, 2016.
