Most police officers are professionals who live up to the public’s trust, but every force has “bad apples” like those portrayed in the movie ‘Cop Land’. San Francisco is no different. Without strong, ethical leadership, any police force could deteriorate into a ‘Cop Land’, to the detriment of citizens and good cops alike.

Here are some of the ‘Cop Land’-like incidents that have been reported in San Francisco in the last year and a half. Keep in mind, as of this writing (August 30, 1997), the police riot on July 25th has still not been reported to the public, so you can only imagine what is going on “off radar.”

Law and Order: San Francisco-style

Mayor’s limo involved in a hit and run? No problem.
Mayor’s words irk woman hit by limo

City’s top gambling investigator caught betting with bookies? No problem.
DA won’t prosecute 2 cops accused of sports betting

Truck runs a red light and kills a cyclist? No problem.
Bicyclist dies after truck slams into him

Critical Mass cyclists allegedly violate traffic laws? Throw the book at them. “That’ll teach the lttle bastards to boo when I speak.” Attributed to Mayor Willie Brown.

Welcome to San Francisco:
Enter at your own risk

• The integrity of the DA’s office
  Witness, shot after
• This mindlessness cost a man his life and the city $1.5 million
  2 cops suspended in death of bank executive
• Promises, promises. The Department’s problems are an open secret
  Chief vows tough look at future cop hires
  Police discipline process broken, panel’s chief says
  Panel in dark on cop’s violent past
  The best and worst of City’s cop force
  Office of Citizen Complaints lawyer says boss too cozy with SFPD
• Captain Dennis Martel rides again
  S.F. marchers say arrests were unjust
  3 S.F. cops must pay for false arrests
• Assault, lie, get caught, apologize, cost the city a fortune
  Hearings begin for officers in AIDS fund-raiser raid
  Man says cops attacked him at AIDS fund-raiser
  Testimony conflicts on AIDS benefit arrest
  Sergeant says he erred during New Year’s raid
  S.F. cops suspended for role in raid
  City to pay $148,000 in New Year police raid
• And they still use pepper spray (see: report 2)
  Pepper spray study is tainted
  Man dies after cops use pepper spray to halt him
• Memorable headlines
  Abrasion on face of dead man matches cop’s boot
  7 deaths linked to police restraining procedures
• The death of Aaron Williams:”The suspect hit me on the head with his crack pipe”
  5 S.F. cops suspended for role in ’95 death
  5 cops guilty of misconduct in death case
  S.F. cops intensify probe of officer
  Officer suspended in Aaron Williams case accused of deceiving department about his previous record
• Random links
  Trouble mounting for two S.F. inspectors
  S.F. cops rush to beat clock in fraud probe
  S.F., Welsh settle out of court
  S.F. cop cleared of one charge, fired over another
  Embattled cop fired by department
  Suicide prompts review of cop stress
  Cop cleared on 4 counts in drug corruption trial
  Narcotics officers’ trial nears close
  Project’s tenants say guards harass them
  Female officer agrees to talk
  S.F. cop charged with assaulting prostitutes
  Cop guilty of sex assault on ex-wife
  S.F. cop cleared of one charge, fired over another
  Embattled cop fired by department
  Suicide prompts review of cop stress
  Cop cleared on 4 counts in drug corruption trial
  Narcotics officers’ trial nears close
  Project’s tenants say guards harass them
  Female officer agrees to talk

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