{ San Francisco Police Chief } George Gascón opponents picking risky fight

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/6/10 | C.W. Nevius

[SmithL]

An organized effort by a group - small, vocal and far left - has decided it needs to put police Chief George Gascón in his place. It began with a smack-down rant by Supervisor Chris Daly during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, and was followed up the next day when the Police Commission voted 4-3 not to support Gascón's plan to arm his officers with Tasers.

Gascón, who called the vote "ridiculous," withdrew his proposal, but this is far from over. The progressives may have overplayed their hand on this one.

..."I think this has very little to do with the Tasers and a lot more to do with 'Who do you think you are?' " said Police Officers Association president Gary Delagnes. "They're going to lose this guy if they don't watch it."

Gascón insists that's not going to happen.

"The only way I'm leaving here is if they fire me," he said. "I came here to make a difference."

The idea of Gascón packing up to leave is a very real concern if he finds that every idea is a battle. He's the most interesting public official to arrive on the San Francisco scene in years. He's riding a wave of public support. And it should be noted that the police officers, who were originally skeptical of him, are now vociferously defending him.

But make no mistake, this small coalition would be delighted to have Gascón leave. At the Board of Supervisors meeting Daly made the case.

"I think it's high time that we talk to Chief Gascón about San Francisco values and say, 'If you want to honor and respect San Francisco values, there's a place for you here,' " Daly said. "And if you don't, 'find the next job somewhere else.' "

[wiggen]

San Francisco Values=No Values.

[machogirl]

Only in San Fran would former (lib chief of police, mesa az) be considered a conservative. lol

[Columbia]

Gascon (or Gas Can as we called him here in AZ) is a Liberal’s wet dream. He was all for making Mesa, AZ, where he was chief before SF, into a sanctuary city. He had run-ins with Sheriff Joe and supported that traitor Mayor of Phoenix, Phil Gordan. He's where he belongs now.

[Mr. Jeeves]

And what he’s finding, probably to his horror, is that San Francisco’s “progressives” don’t even want basic police work to be done. Crime is a part of the taxpayer extortion racket Daly and his ilk are running, and police just mess up its effectiveness. :)