SFPD looking at 10 more officers in offensive-text probe
The San Francisco Police Department is expanding its probe into officers’ offensive text messages, with at least 10 additional cops coming under investigation by the internal affairs unit, police union officials said Tuesday.
Sources tell us that at least one captain is among those being questioned about inappropriate text messages, widening an investigation that initially focused on four officers and a former sergeant.
Police Chief Greg Suhr would not name names, confirm ranks or provide details of the probe.
Police Officers Association President Martin Halloran said the officers have been assigned union attorneys “for their legal defense, which they are entitled to under their peace officer bill of rights.”
The news comes on the heels of the disclosure that former Sgt. Ian Furminger — who was recently convicted of federal corruption charges — exchanged racist and homophobic e-mails with four officers in 2011 and 2012.
The texts were handed over to police brass months ago, but did not become public until Friday when federal prosecutors included them in a court filing in the Furminger case.
In 1998, Robison was quoted in the gay magazine the Advocate as saying, I’m treated like one of the guys. ...
“All n— must f— hang,” another unidentified officer texted to Furminger in an unrelated exchange, prosecutors said.
Harry Soulette, a retired SFPD patrol officer with African American Officers for Justice, wants to know why the four were not immediately suspended.
Word of the investigation has hit the department hard, coming at at time when police agencies across the country are under increasing scrutiny when it comes to race relations.
Hoping to keep a lid on the potentially explosive situation, the police union began airing a TV ad campaign Tuesday extolling the department’s diversity.
“When this investigation first came to the attention of the POA, I wanted to get a message out to the community that we serve that our department is one of the most diverse in the entire country — where over half our members consist of women, people of color and members of the LGBT community,” Halloran said.