Remember this video, in which protesters ask an Oakland PD officer why he illegally covered his name-badge, then, when he won’t answer, ask a supervisor why this was so? Well, both the cop and his supervisor have been disciplined for their roles in the incident (the cop for covering his badge, the supervisor for failing to report the illegal conduct). The supervisor, formerly a lieutenant, has been busted down to sergeant, and the officer has been suspended for a month (no word on whether he will be paid during the suspension, which he is appealing).
After an internal investigation, Hargraves was ordered suspended for 30 days, and Wong was demoted to sergeant for failing to report the incident to internal affairs, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because the department considers the case a confidential personnel matter…
“[An video the officer had seen on the net involving another officer] called for violence against the officer, including burning down his home,” Hargraves wrote. “This caused me great concern for the safety of my family.”
But civil rights attorney Jim Chanin said Wednesday, “That’s like saying that you can steal from a store because you’re poor. If you take that to its logical conclusion, every police officer every day faces possible exposure and danger because their names are on their badges.”
Chanin added, “Officer Hargraves could have asked to get an undercover assignment. He could have asked to be taken off duty that day. Instead, he decided to go and get his pay and violate the law. There’s no excuse for that.”
Oakland cops disciplined for name-covering episode
(via JWZ)