Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Accountability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public and commissioners press SFPD, OCC on recent indictments and slow complaint handling
Summary
Public commenters and commissioners raised concerns March 5 about federal indictments of several SFPD officers, a perceived delay in OCC investigations and untested evidence kits; Chief Gregory Sir outlined department steps, including suspensions and increased oversight.
Speakers at the San Francisco Police Commission meeting on March 5 pressed city officials over recent indictments of several officers and what they said were long delays in internal and civilian complaint processes.
Public commenter Michael Petrellas told commissioners he experienced slow handling of an OCC complaint and urged the office to "consider expediting complaints at the OCC," saying it took 10 months for his complaint to be acknowledged. Petrellas and other commenters also asked why criminal accountability for alleged officer misconduct sometimes appears to lag compared with other investigations.
Chief Gregory P. Sir acknowledged the seriousness of recent federal indictments and said the department had suspended the officers without pay while the legal process proceeds. "The allegations are serious. The department takes it serious. They have been suspended without pay," he told the commission, and said he would recommend termination if officers are found guilty. He described operational steps already taken: assigning four SFPD members to work with the FBI on the investigation, increasing undercover training and supervision, rotating personnel out of certain units and preparing to fit officers with cameras during searches.
Public commenters also raised evidence and backlog concerns. One speaker asked the chief to "check into" an apparent backlog of untested sexual-assault kits; another referenced "720 kits not been tested," urging the department to resolve outstanding forensic backlogs.
OCC Director Joyce Hicks previewed the OCC—s annual report for 2013 and highlighted national developments in civilian oversight: "UC Davis is establishing a police accountability board," she said, noting that the 2011 pepper-spray incident on that campus led to a settlement and reforms. The OCC director said her office would present the annual report at the next meeting.
Commissioners and the chief emphasized the need to respect criminal and administrative processes while assuring the public that the department is addressing supervision and training. Commissioners urged the public not to rely on rumor while saying the commission will oversee administrative matters that come before it.
The meeting included additional community testimony about unsolved homicide cases and the need for closure; Chief Sir reiterated the department—s tip line for the public and repeated that community cooperation is essential to solving crimes.
The commission did not take formal disciplinary action on the indictments at this meeting; related administrative matters will proceed through departmental and legal channels and may return to the commission where appropriate.
