66 Cases Pulled For Review Over SFPD Sergeant's Alleged Inappropriate Racial Remarks
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The San Francisco Public Defender's Office Thursday said that 66 cases have been pulled for review in connection with a Bayview police sergeant who faces discipline for alleged inappropriate racial and sexual remarks.
San Francisco police officials on Friday said that police officers in February reported that another officer had used inappropriate language in their presence with "sexual and racial undertones."
After an investigation was completed in early April, Police Chief Greg Suhr referred the officer to the Police Commission for discipline including possible termination, police said.
While some news reports this week indicated that the officer, identified by the public defender's office as Sgt. Lawrence Kempinski, used the N-word racial epithet, police on Tuesday said that report was incorrect.
Related: Ex-SF POA President Slams Officers Who 'Snitched' About Racial Comments
However, the officer's words were serious enough to merit disciplinary action, officials said.
A total of 66 cases ranging from petty theft to murder have been identified as being potentially affected by the allegations against the officer, according to the public defender's office.
Around two-thirds of the cases were handled by the public defender, with the rest handled by private attorneys and outside counsel.
The Police Department in December launched a "Not on My Watch" initiative encouraging employees to report instances of bias and discrimination, as appears to have occurred in this case. The department is also requiring all officers to undergo training on workplace harassment, procedural justice and implicit bias, according to police officials.
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