Policewatch Update: Two Main Cops in MLK Day Incident Off the Streets

TWO OF THE MAIN COPS INVOLVED IN THE MLK DAY INCIDENT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF OUR STREETS!


JUST A QUICK POLICEWATCH UPDATE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW
ABOUT A RECENT SUCCESS IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE FOR THE
CHILDREN ABUSED BY SFPD IN HUNTERS POINT. IN MY LAST
UPDATE I MENTIONED ALL OF THE MEETINGS WITH DIFFERENT
OFFICIALS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE. AMONG THESE
MEETINGS WAS A SERIES OF THREE MEETINGS WITH THE AFRICAN
AMERICAN POLICY BOARD. THIS BOARD ACTS AS A LIAISON OF
SORTS BETWEEN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. POLICEWATCH
AND THE FAMILIES PUT PRESSURE ON THIS BOARD TO HELP THEM
IDENTIFY THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE M.L.K DAY INCIDENT
AND TO PRESSURE THE CHIEF TO PLACE THEM ON DESK DUTY. A
COMBINATION OF THIS PRESSURE ALONG WITH THE BROADER
COMMUNITY AND ACTIVIST PRESSURE AND MEDIA ADVOCACY PAID
OFF. TWOOF THE MAIN PERPETRATORS IDENTIFIED BY THE
FAMILIES HAVE BEEN PLACED ON DESK DUTY PENDING
INVESTIGATION. AS SMALL AS THIS RESPONSE SEEMS, IT IS AN
EXTREMELY RARE RESPONSE FROM THE SFPD. THIS WAS
SOMETHING THE DEPARTMENT ORIGINALLY SAID COULD NOT BE
DONE. THEY TALKED ABOUT "EMPLOYEE RIGHTS" AND "THE O.C.C
HAS TO FINISH ITS INVESTIGATION FIRST" ALONG WITH A LOT OF
OTHER EXCUSES BUT AS WE NOW SEE, THE SFPD HAD THE POWER
ALL ALONG TO DO WHAT WE DEMANDED. UNFORTUNATELY, IT
TAKES A LOT OF NOISE TO MAKE THEM DO THE OBVIOUSLY RIGHT
THING. BUT THE RESPONSE IS FOCUSED ON ONLY TWO OF MANY
OFFICERS INVOLVED SO WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF
US. I JUST WANTED TO PASS ON THIS EVIDENCE OF THE THE POWER
OF THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE WE COME TOGETHER AND STAND
UP AND SPEAK OUT FOR WHAT WE KNOW IS RIGHT. THESE ARE
JUST BABY STEPS BUT WE GOTTA CELEBRATE EVEN THE LITTLE
VICTORIES. GOOD WORK EVERYONE! THANK YOU SUSIE, TENISHA,
INELL AND JAMES FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND LATE NIGHTS
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.

IN STRUGGLE,
SAM (POLICEWATCH)