Police commission denies motion to dismiss disciplinary charges against Captain Gregory Corrales; hearing to continue

The San Francisco Police Commission on May 13 denied a defense motion to dismiss disciplinary charges filed against Captain Gregory Corrales, allowing an open hearing to continue after a full evening of testimony and argument.

The charges (file C04‑123JWF) stem from Corrales’ public statements following a November 20, 2002 incident on Union Street. The Office of Citizen Complaints (OCC) accused Corrales of violating Departmental General Order 8.09 (media cooperation policy) and Departmental General Order 2.01 (conduct that may bring discredit or subvert department order, efficiency or discipline). OCC attorney Cecily Gray told the commission she would present witnesses and documentary materials to show Corrales’ comments went beyond factual observations and pressured investigators and witnesses.

Defense counsel Bill Fazio argued the OCC had not shown Corrales’ comments jeopardized the criminal investigation and asked the commission to dismiss the charges. After a closed‑session deliberation, the commission reconvened and voted to deny the motion to dismiss. In the public roll call the commission recorded a 4–2 result: Commissioners Teresa Sparks, Joe Marshall, Yvonne Lee and Vincent Pan voted to deny the motion; Commissioners Petri De Jesus and Thomas Mazuko voted no. The denial means the disciplinary hearing will proceed to additional testimony, including expected testimony from Captain Corrales.

Witnesses who testified during the session included retired Captain Dan Lawson, who described his role as a station captain responding the night of the incident and said he refrained from talking to the press because doing so could compromise a criminal case; retired Lieutenant Joseph (Joe) Duto, who led the General Works criminal investigation and described the investigative process and command‑level pressures; and retired Inspector Joseph Peraldi, who said in his view Corrales’ remarks did not jeopardize the investigation. Former Chief Earl Prentice Sanders testified for the defense and said he did not believe Corrales’ statements subverted department order, efficiency or discipline.

Gray told the commission the OCC’s case rests on the “totality of the statements” Corrales gave to local reporters and on evidence that the department had an open management control and criminal investigation at the time. Fazio characterized the press comments as within the range of protected and permissible officer communications and urged dismissal.

The commission repeatedly limited cross‑examination to avoid relitigating factual disputes from the underlying Union Street criminal matters; commissioners emphasized the narrower question before them—whether Corrales’ conduct violated departmental rules. After the vote to deny dismissal, the commission agreed to continue the hearing at the call of the chair to complete testimony and closing arguments.

Next steps: the commission scheduled additional testimony (defense witnesses remained) and will hear Captain Corrales’ testimony and closing arguments before deliberating further.

Quote: OCC attorney Cecily Gray said during opening, “The OCC tonight will present the testimony of Captain Dan Lawson,” framing the hearing’s evidentiary approach. Defense counsel Bill Fazio argued in cross that the OCC had failed to prove the statements “jeopardized the investigation,” and the commissioners left the record open for the remaining testimony and argument.

Ending: The commission reconvened from closed session and announced the motion to deny dismissal carried 4–2; the hearing will continue on a date set by the chair.