SF district attorney drops felony charges against police chief

Sac Bee ^ | 3/11/03 | Kim Curtis - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO - District Attorney Terence Hallinan dropped felony obstruction of justice charges Tuesday against Police Chief Earl Sanders and his top aide, saying he couldn't prove they helped orchestrate an alleged cover-up of a street brawl involving off-duty officers.

[NormsRevenge]

Meanwhile, San Francisco ranked last among major U.S. cities when it came to solving violent crime, according to an investigation by the San Francisco Chronicle published last spring. The police department solved just 28 percent of violent crimes between 1996 and 2000, compared to a national average of 61 percent.

During the same period, San Francisco police solved just half of all homicides, fewer than one-third of reported rapes and didn't investigate nearly 7 in 10 robberies and assaults.

In fact, the Chronicle has reported, the department spent more on overtime protecting Mayor Willie Brown than on overtime to investigate all nonfatal aggravated assaults, rapes and robberies combined.

[OldFriend]

While your facts are shocking, I'm not surprised at the priorities of the citizens in SF. They have the government they deserve.....much like we here in NJ have the government we deserve.

[JoeFromCA]

Hallinan is a left wing jerk. While I haven't reviewed the facts of this matter carefully, I suspect that Hallinan's political interests are his main motivations in pursuing charges. Apparently the off-duty policeman son of a highup in the police department, who had a history of excessive force, tried to strongarm a fellow out of a taco outside a bar, and a fight ensued. Hallinan's alleges there was a coverup. I wouldn't believe anything Hallinan says, so I'm suspicious.

[lawnguy]

I remember the Washington Post Weekly edition did a long feature several years ago on the SF District Attorney. Maybe a different guy or gal now, but the point is they were practically orgasmic over the guy at the time. They were giddy over his "liberal roots", his belief in rehabilitation, his "passionate battle against hate". All the buzzwords were there.

Even though I'm in the middle of fly over country, I could see this guy was going to cause a train wreck someday soon.

[OldFriend]

My comments were really referring to the amount of money spent on security for the illustrious mayor of SF.......