Tony Montoya - SFPOA President
DA Boudin loves criminals more than their victims – and in many cases, their future victims
“Put your money where your mouth is.” “Actions speak louder than words.” “Money talks and bull…” you get the idea. Chesa Boudin abandoned San Francisco’s Asian American community before he was elected and has done nothing but ignore and patronize that community since then.
Shootings are up. Homicides are up. Burglaries are up. Now is the time in San Francisco for us to see more officers on our streets, not less. More patrols. More visible engagement. More vigorous crime investigations. It looks like the residents of San Francisco share that view as well as our Police Commission.
Elected to “Advocate on behalf of the People”, he instead champions those who prey upon them
As we roll into 2021, we all are thinking, “2020 was a horrible year, next year has to better.” I hope so, but it’s my job to assume it gets worse. As this new year matures, I think it’s incumbent upon us all to appreciate the strength we have together—as one union.
From late November through to December, our District Attorney has made it clear that it’s open season on police officers. No matter if you’re defending yourself or coming to the aide of what a resident calls in as vicious domestic violence, our DA may decide to prosecute you.
Never, before have, so many wanted to close out a year like our country wants to close out 2020. From COVID to wildfires to a budget crisis to an all-out national assault on our profession, the end of 2020 cannot come quick enough.
While we flip 2020 the proverbial bird, we all know that 2021 will not be a year full of unicorns and rainbows. Today’s problems will carry over and, in some cases, things might get worse. We cannot panic. Throughout 2020’s trauma, I have been struck by the incredible poise, determination, professionalism and dedication of our SFPD officers.
Service. Duty. Selflessness. As we approach Veteran’s Day, these words come to mind to describe the attributes of those who faithfully protect our nation’s freedom. They are also attributes that seemed to be devalued in our culture now as we place individualism and expression above the sacrifices needed to protect and promote our communities as a collective.
SB 731 (police officer certification) was a horrible bill. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. It was deeply flawed, written in private and the bill’s author, State Senator Steven Bradford, attempted to ram it through the Legislature at the last minute without taking a single suggestion from either the Governor or any law enforcement professionals. Horrible bill, horrible process.
If there is one thing that history has taught us, it is that change is inevitable. What is not inevitable is what change looks like. This has never been truer than right now in our country regarding policing. As a union, we face a choice. We either actively work to help shape what that change looks like, or we sit on the sidelines, complain to one another, and watch what happens to our profession.
There’s the old saying, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Someone should have told our Board of Supervisors. For San Francisco politicians, it’s more like have they want their cake, and then they want to eat the whole damn bakery. Apparently, many of our Supervisors wanted to be police chiefs when they grew up, and that spells trouble for our city.
“Beware.” This is the caution we issue nearly every day to San Franciscans to warn them to be alert for those who seek to exploit the current crisis to rob, cheat, and profit. Well, it’s not just street criminals and two-bit hustlers who seek to get over during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can now add so-called “criminal justice reformers” to the list of culprits that should keep your eyes peeled.
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