Phones started ringing off the hook last week. Community activists were outraged by the videos that a police officer had filmed that they considered racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic. As one friend described it over the phone, "one-stop shopping for images of bigotry." Those I spoke to suggested that the video exposed a culture of entitlement where police officers felt comfortable using public resources to create a film that mocked a transgender woman, an African American homeless woman being run over by a police car, an African American officer eating out of a dog bowl, and various other parodies of disenfranchised communities. For some, it is the 49ers video all over again but worse. Earlier this year, the public relations person for the 49ers was caught making a training film that also perpetuated stereotypical imagery; also used "humorous" remarks that were racist, sexist, or homophobic; also thought that because it was humor, he did not need to take responsibility for use of stereotypical imagery; and finally, argued that since the film was not intended for public consumption he should not be held accountable to community standards.
Let me begin by saying that I have an incredibly bawdy sense of humor and I'm not easily offended. And as a former firefighter, I understand how humor can be used to diffuse stress. I also know at times I have made jokes that might have offended some. However, I do not think a police officer mocking African Americans, transgender people, or sexual harassment by police officers of women is funny and I would hope that people who are entrusted with serving these communities would show enough judgment to understand how these communities would feel betrayed and disrespected.
A startling and stunning set of observations can be made about the police officer who filmed the video in question and his supporters within the department: They don't believe that using city resources, like a police car, or filming in the station and wearing SFPD uniforms is a problem while making such a controversial film. They do think that the police have freedom of speech rights while driving a police car over an African American homeless woman and that any effort to discipline him infringes on his rights. They believe that using humor gives him cover, relieves him of responsibility, and that no breach of trust occurred. Finally, they saw no problem with producing the film during work hours.
The bad news is that there are more videos out there that are even worse than the ones we have already seen. There are also more officers who have yet to be identified and suspended. Keep in mind that these same cops serve the Bayview, a neighborhood that is primarily African American. Is it any wonder that activists in the Bayview were furious? And activists from the Bayview are quick to point out that this video did not happen in a vacuum and they couldn't be more right.
One community activist complained that he has been working on police accountability issues for decades, and that nothing ever gets better. I humbly disagree. As a result of Fajitagate in 2002, progressives moved an initiative in November 2003 that created a much stronger Police Commission. This is probably the commission's biggest test since Fajitagate; I think the commission is up to the task. Mayor Gavin Newsom is also creating a blue ribbon commission, which will provide a huge opportunity for the community to work on recommendations that can profoundly change the culture of the SF Police Department. We must not let this opportunity for systematic reform pass us by.
Bay Area Police Watch is calling on the department to fire all the police officers involved, include grassroots voices and perspectives on the blue ribbon panel, conduct a bias review of all legal proceedings in which the involved officers have taken part over the past five years, and notify all defendants who have been convicted (or entered guilty pleas) based on testimony of officers involved, so their attorneys can file appropriate motions. This will send a strong message to rank and file members about accountability.
I think we need to consider a few changes, like making police officers live in San Francisco. Make them live next door to us. It might make them feel more like our neighbors. We also need to revisit the whole sensitivity training issue and see what is working and what isn't. Major changes need to happen to create a different culture. While I believe in accountability for the officers involved, the larger struggle is changing that police culture so that it never happens again. We need clear markers to show that goals have been met within the department.
I have to say I was incredibly impressed with the mayor's very strong response. He has occasionally done and said things that have knocked my socks off – the day that he joined the picket line with the striking hotel workers of HERE Local 2, the day that he started issuing marriage licenses to gays and lesbians, all things that I strongly believe in and am passionate about. But his reaction to this incident was very telling and drove home to me that as much as I really disagree with him on some issues, I do fundamentally really respect him. If he is willing to work with the community to change the culture of the Police Department, we must do everything to support those efforts.
Full disclosure: Robert Haaland, a transgender activist, successfully sued the San Francisco Police Department several years ago over police harassment based on gender identity.