Newly-implemented California laws are shedding light on how law enforcement agencies investigate and discipline officers.

California’s SB12 and SB1421 require law enforcement agencies to publish the full investigative and disciplinary records in cases where the department found evidence of officer misconduct

This new mandated transparency reveals dozens of local cases where the San Diego Police Department found its own officers used excessive force, exhibited racist behavior, sexually harassed members of the public or fellow officers, conducted unlawful searches, failed to use body cameras properly and more.

NBC 7 Investigates reviewed 68 internal affairs investigations from the San Diego Police Department for incidents that took place from 2014 to 2022. We spoke with city leaders and police oversight officials who say they found the cases “eye-opening” and “disturbing.” They also called for more transparency and accountability from police.

Since 2014, there have been multiple findings of discriminatory behavior by San Diego Police officers, including several supervisors. One such incident happened on Jan. 27, 2021. A group of officers, including a K9 officer and their dog, arrested several illegal gambling suspects inside a business. While an officer handcuffed one woman, multiple body camera recordings captured Sgt. Brandon Woodland saying, “It only likes dark meat.” Investigative reports describe the woman as Asian or Hispanic.

on June 14, 2021, Officer McNett arrested a woman for smoking on the boardwalk and lied about what happened next.

Investigative documents and body camera video shows McNett and the suspect arriving at a police station for booking. The suspect complains when McNett and another officer try to secure her in the vehicle with a seatbelt. While resisting their efforts, the report states that she tried to get out of the vehicle and tried to kick an officer. McNett pulled her out of the vehicle to the pavement, which investigators said was warranted by her actions. When she was on the ground, in handcuffs, and no longer resisting, McNett used pepper spray on her eyes. 

In his police report, McNett claimed she tried to kick him on the ground before he pepper sprayed her. Investigators said that didn’t happen. 

McNett received a letter of reprimand, but refused to sign it. He’s still employed with San Diego Police as an officer.

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/investigations/racist-comments-excessive-force-and-offensive-behavior-revealed-in-san-diego-police-department-internal-affairs-cases/3166439/?_osource=newltr_v2_station_Hdlines_KNSD

What gets me is that the police union cry foul, and say that minor issues are not worth the scrutiny and public embarrasment caused by this law that forces them to have transparency into their on the job behavior, in uniform. 

Jared Wilson, President of the San Diego Police Officers Association has a wholly different reaction to the newly released records. He also says most officers joined with the understanding personnel files were private.

“That wasn’t the deal for what they signed up for,” Wilson said.

Wilson says he understands why some officer misconduct, like criminal activity, warrants full public transparency. But he says more minor offenses are often corrected after a letter of reprimand, and most officers go on to become professional and upstanding employees for decades afterward.

- So, just like the minor bullshit that cops are fucking with the public about? Go back to McNett arresting a woman for smoking on the boardwalk... that is public sidewalk between the beach, and the businesses of Pacific Beach and Mission Beach. This wasn't McNett's first fuckup, where he went beserk over someone smoking - except, the other example, was someone NOT smoking. 

on May 23, 2019. Investigative documents and body-camera video shows Officer McNett approaching a woman holding an unlit cigarette in her mouth.

Officer McNett: The reason I’m contacting you is that you’re smoking on the boardwalk.
Woman: I’m not smoking.
Officer McNett: Well you had a cigarette in your mouth and a cigarette in your hand and you can’t be smoking on the boardwalk.
Woman: I’m not smoking.

The video shows McNett handcuffing the woman after she starts walking away from him. He tells her it’s illegal to hold a lit or unlit cigarette in her mouth on the boardwalk. A few minutes later, she’s uncuffed and given a citation for smoking on the boardwalk. The internal affairs investigation found that she was not breaking the law and was wrongfully arrested.

I repeat, fuck the police. Asshole bullies with badges, who are freaked out that now they are LEGALLY and LAWFULLY exposed to public scrutiny, for their PROFESSIONAL behavior, reprimands, and criminal activities. 

“Having that paper (letter of reprimand) in your file when you’ve never been in trouble in your entire life it’s impactful, it’s meaningful, and it has an effect on your career,” Wilson said. Of 68 sustained findings of officer misconduct since 2014, 16 officers were disciplined with a letter of reprimand. However, it was impossible for NBC 7 Investigates to get a complete picture of how the San Diego Police Department disciplines officers because 37 of those 68 cases were missing investigative files with discipline information.

Yup, someone destroyed the evidence, in the police station, of police misconduct. Not that this is a surprise, entire police departments in LA county destroyed all records when the law was passed that made their professional records public domain. I posted about that last year. 

NBC reporters were repeatedly denied interviews for this story by the San Diego Police Department., Police Chief David Nisleit, a high-ranking internal affairs investigator, a department spokesperson, and also reached out to each of the officers mentioned in this story to give them an opportunity to respond. NBC never heard back from any of them. 

So, freedom of the press, that constitutional right... meets the blue line of tax payer funded public servants hired to enforce laws, like that constitutional law. The police responded with a publicity statement of smoke and mirrors. 

https://www.sandiego.gov/police/data-transparency/mandated-disclosures/sb16-sb1421-ab748