SFPD Xma$ Video Press Conf

A video produced by San Francisco police officers was recently discovered which ridicules the very citizens who pay their salaries, and displayed the contempt these officers showed for the profession. Sleeping, wastrel and Tai Chi adherent officers are too busy to respond to emergencies. Obvious crimes are ignored while the sleeping homeless are attacked in major force, and planted with drugs. A vain officer is too self-absorbed to notice he has hit a pedestrian. Sexual intimidation gratifies vain officers.

While there is a certain self-mockery to the video, there is a serious side. A coalition of SF residents and activists held a press conference to Dec 7, 2005, in order to decry the scenes, because they are only too true. Overzealous, poorly trained or outright racist police have killed an inordinate number of black young men,. The entire community of Bayview-Hunter's Point is poorly served by these same officers, who intended to play the video at their Christmas party this year.

Twenty-four officers were eventually suspended, and six of them have been excluded from that mix. At this point eighteen officers are under suspension, including a Captain. Out-take clips not included in the video have also been discovered showing a black officer eating out of a dog dish. That officer had gained the nickname 'dog' because he complained about being treated like one by a sergeant. The Captain is claiming he was not aware his image was included in the video, saying the video-clips were from years earlier and a code to videographers "cut and take two." He is also apparently claiming his children will need therapy due to the exposure of this video.

The speakers in the press conference made it plain that the crime situation in the area is exacerbated by the poor attitude of the officers, who demean the residents rather than treat them as citizens. Two mothers of slain young men spoke at this press conference, and the raw courage it takes to face down a force that shot your son over 40 times was evident.

The response of the videographer, Andrew Cohen. to the incident is to the theme that cops have it tough and need to relax hard, so give 'em more money.


Speakers in sequence:
Malika Parker, MC
Van Jones, national Exec Dir Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
mesha Monge-Irizarry, mother of Idriss Stelley, killed by SFPD June 11, 2001 at the Metreon
<unknown speaker>
Willie Ratcliff, Publisher SF Bayview Newspaper
Elvira Pollard, mother of Gus Rugley, killed by SFPD June 29, 2004
Monica Autry
Maurice Campbell, Community Coalition
Leroy Moore, Disability Advocates
<unknown speaker>

Music Peter Tosh "Peace Treaty"