The SFPD video scandal continues.
Yesterday, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi released another hotel security video that he says is evidence of police misconduct. Adachi says the video shows police entering the Julian Hotel carrying no bags. The officers were then shown leaving carrying a laptop case and another bag, neither of which officers listed as evidence, Adachi says.
Police also wrote that the suspect, Jesus Reyes, gave them permission to enter his hotel room and search for drugs, something he denies. The case was dropped after one of the officers failed to show up in court.
Here's a statement from San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr:
All the officers in this case had been taken out of Plainclothes some have been reassigned to Administrative duties while the investigation is being conducted.”
“I want to emphasize that these officers have the same rights as any other citizen. They are assumed innocent until proven guilty.”
“If it is determined through the investigation that the officers acted inappropriately they will be discipline. This discipline will be swift and severe up to and including termination depending on the findings.”
“The hardworking men and women of the San Francisco Police Department will not tolerate dishonesty within their ranks. There is no place in this Department for dishonest Cops.”
And here's the video:
The department has been roiled by a series of security videos that Adachi and some suspects' defense attorneys have pointed to as evidence of illegal police conduct during drug arrests. Dozens of cases have been either dropped by the District Attorney or thrown out of court due to discrepancies between what was shown on tape and what officers reported in official accounts. The conduct at issue concerns proper use of warrants and other procedures that police are legally required to follow.
The original spate of cases resulted in the reassignment of a squad of eight detectives to administrative duties, and an ongoing FBI investigation.