Richmond PD Chief Defends Joining Anti-Police Brutality Protest

[damnedifIknow]

ICHMOND (KPIX 5) – A Bay Area police chief who participated in a protest against police brutality said he would do it again, despite complaints from officers saying he broke the law because he wore his uniform during the march.

In an interview with KPIX 5, Magnus said, “Sure. I would do it again. I would like to be a little more prepared for perhaps the fallout.”

Magnus received an avalanche of reaction after someone snapped a picture of him at the protest, holding a sign with the popular hashtag “#BlackLivesMatter.”

KPIX 5, KCBS and Chronicle insider Phil Matier asked Magnus what his reaction would be if an officer held a sign showing support for Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson, who fatally shot Michael Brown. Magnus said, “I would have been appalled. And I think there is a real difference because my statement was about building bridges. A statement like supporting Darren Wilson, especially under the circumstances, is incredibly divisive, I think inappropriate.”

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/12/15/richmond-pd-chief-defends-joining-anti-police-brutality-protest-holding-blacklivesmatter-sign-while-in-uniform-chris-magnus-march-political-statement/

[DonCoquixote]

1. the next time someone says no good cops are there

please refer them here

[damnedifIknow]

3. I was in doubt myself until I saw this

[marym625]

4. Now we don't have to say that any longer

We can say there is one good cop. Hopefully, he will actually speak out against any brutality he sees. Hopefully, others will follow.

For now, we can say there is one good cop.

[damnedifIknow]

5. Here's a cop that gets it

and did something about it. Can't speak highly enough of this man. You want balls? This guy has elephant hangings.

[marym625]

6. I agree

As I said, I hope others follow

[marym625]

2. AWESOME! !!!

Yay, him!!

Maybe we are actually getting somewhere!

[Faryn Balyncd]

7. great thank you!

[daredtowork]

8. WTF - his officers complained?!

I thought this was one of the slickest political moves ever. Richmond is an area that needs police-to-people diplomacy, to put it mildly. Unlikely the jackbooters in Oakland, this Richmond chief seemed to be getting out in front of the problem. You would think his officers would be grateful to him for trying to help reduce civil unrest and keep the peace - thus keeping everyone safe.

Perhaps those officers were just cynically eyeing the overtime that policefolk in Oakland were making.

[dreamnightwind]

9. Richmond CA has a long and violent police history

Many black people have been killed by the Richmond police, they're legendary for it. Recently there has been a major shift in the force, so to say, good things happening there and this guy deserves and probably needs all the support he can get for being on the right side of things.

When I lived there (spent about 2 years there in the 80's) there was a group of Richmond cops that called themselves the Rangers (iirc) that used to brag about their violent police adventures, they were opeerating as a vigil-ante group within the department. Lost track of that whole thing, they probably were never convicted of anything, anyway it's great to read about the positive changes that have been happening there recently, sorely needed.