San Francisco Civil Rights Group Backs Chief Bill Scott NAACP Says SFPOA Should Stand Down, Respect Chief’s Apology. Strong Community Support For New Police Chief, NAACP Says
Statement of Rev. Amos Brown, President, San Francisco Chapter NAACP In Support Of Bill Scott
“The civil rights and African American community stands solidly behind Chief Bill Scott. He has recognized and apologized for his department’s raid of a journalist’s home office in an effort to unmask a confidential source who leaked a police report on the death of San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi to the news media.
“We hold public officials to a higher standard and we hold the Chief of Police and the Police Department to the highest standards because they must protect our civil liberties. We believe the Chief’s apology and his admission that the searches were probably illegal as well as his call for an independent investigation demonstrates he is the right leader for SFPD, able to admit mistakes, retain his integrity, and enjoy the respect of the many peoples that make up our city.
“We are deeply disappointed, but not surprised, by the flagrant political attack by the San Francisco Police Officers Association against Chief Scott. Their unwarranted remarks belie their resistance to any reform of the department and their ranks. The only reason for their attack is to stop the police reforms that Chief Scott is leading in our city. The community demands reform and it will not stand for the SFPOA’s attacks against a man who is big enough to admit a mistake.
“We urge the City’s elected leadership to reject the comments by the SFPOA and be mindful that their attack on Chief Scott is emblematic of everything that is wrong with the backwards thinking of some police officers who reject civil and human right reforms in our police ranks.”
Rev. Amos Brown, President, San Francisco Chapter NAACP