Seemingly disgruntled San Francisco police officers have taken to social media to air some of the department’s most provocative rumors, from sexual affairs to insinuations of alcoholism, nepotism and fraud.
Interim Chief Paul Yep today wrote a department-wide email confirming that an investigation is afoot of “inappropriate social media posts that were recently brought to our attention.”
Many of the AI-esque and often sexually suggestive memes, posted on an Instagram account with posts dating back one month, depict real department members — mostly women of color.
One such image suggests that one female officer ranked well on the sergeants exam because of nepotism. A separate post derided top scorers on that exam as former Assistant Chief David Lazar’s driver, an Equal Employment Opportunity “crybaby,” legacy officers and a “lactation consultant.”
Another post insinuates that a different female officer got answers to the test that officers take to qualify for a sergeant promotion from a colleague.
These are not general allegations but, instead, target specific SFPD officers with unverified accusations. Multiple officers have confirmed that the images look similar to and reference actual SFPD officers, even including their distinguishing features. While the memes might come off as general griping to members of the public, SFPD officers recognize specific officers being referenced.
Mission Local is not naming the accounts because, in many cases, the images closely resemble real officers alongside the unsubstantiated rumors.
Many of the comments on each post are from the Instagram accounts of real officers, who appear to understand the context of the memes. Those responses range from encouragement to disapproval.
“This is just a negative person taking it out on people — women of color who are highly intelligent,” said one officer, who wanted to remain anonymous.
Another longtime officer added, “this is not good-natured fun.” The accusations, he said, are unverified. But “they are referencing specific officers. They are airing people’s personal business and putting their problems on blast to the whole agency. It’s just hurtful.”
The accounts also include racist leanings. One post insinuates that only Black people can work on the SFPD’s recruitment team, with a cartoon image of eight grinning Black cops standing at a recruiting tent. “Diversity is our strength — unless you’re white and want to do recruiting,” the post reads.
There have long been meme accounts by officers that have complained about work conditions and management. But the two new accounts that target specific officers personally with unverified accusations prompted pushback from both department and union leadership today.
In an email to members of the department, police union president Louis Wong called the posts “vicious, personal, and anonymous attacks.”
“What may have started as inside humor has crossed a line into malicious and destructive behavior that has no place in our profession or our union,” Wong wrote in an email. “To be clear, attempting to destroy a fellow officer’s reputation, career, and family life is unacceptable. This is not a joke.”
Wong is the subject of a series of posts on another account. One of them shows a cartoon version of him fighting another officer for the presidency of the Police Officers Association, which he won earlier this month.
That account alludes to his opponent, Kevin Worrell, allegedly paying for expensive meals and drinks with union funds. In more than one image, the two men beat each other with boxing gloves.
The insinuations reach all the way to the captains, with a depiction of one station captain passed out after drinking multiple bottles of wine, and another drooling at female officers’ backsides.
Following today’s uproar, one of the anonymous Instagram accounts reveled in the attention. “This first month was just a warm up.. (sic) GET READY FOR SOME CRAZY CONTENT!!!” reads a post. “Remember no one is safe here … You did whatever you did to be here. You’re (sic) coworker bosses/friends put you here. Don’t bitch and complain when your actions put you here.”
It was a post that rankled officers who were already unhappy.
“SFPD has always been a high school: Drama about who’s sleeping with who, which cops hate each other, etc.,” writes a department veteran. “But it’s never been blasted out like that.”
Additional reporting by Joe Eskenazi.
I’ve as always wondered why we give so much power and responsibility to people who are barely out of high school, but then, look who we elected for President.
Anyone with a brain would know that with a few phone calls and basic research, one’s could easily find who is the owner of that Instagram account. If you are the one posting the so called “salacious rumors” and you are reading this, and of course you are reading this as a petty attention seeker, you should be very concerned if you actually work for the police department. When you name will be revealed, be ready to just pack your bags, skip town before the tar and feathers, and go to Mar A Lago to do private security, they always hire the best and brightest minds down there.
Wait! Didnt Breed and Jenkins tell us all 272 (or was it 273?) boxes in “police reform” had been checked off? Doesnt seem possible with all that training, all that accountability and transparency, all that overtime pay for sitting around 16th St plaza doing nothing, we would see a replay of the 2010 or 2015 racism and sexism rearing its ugly head, Fortunately with a DA the cops truly fear, we wont see any racist shootings, or stealing drugs from people on 16th to sell in Tenderloin. Nah, those were the bad old days. Rest easy SF, just because they treat each other this way doesnt mean they will treat the people they are sworn to protect in the same way. The streets are totally safe now (if you’re not a woman or person of color).
This is a terrible Police force,
The High School comparison fits and I’ve used it before.
They’re about the same size population as a large high school.
They have generations of the same families cycling through for decades.
And, if your dad is a chief you can get pumped up on PED’s and ‘beat up faggots’.
In the middle of the night for their take home fajitas.
If you’re a Mission Local reader I don’t need to go on because you’ve noticed for years that your Police department doesn’t work.
The closest they get to the public is when they charge in a phalanx into Independence Day street parties like a Trump parade to show that the Mayor has agreed to allow the Irish run (like DBI) SFPOA to punish the Latino people of the Mission for Replacing the Irish population.
Hey, I spent 11 years proudly wearing uniforms with American flags sewn on the left shoulders and these racist thugs don’t represent America.
They can be salvaged.
Hey, they’re paramilitary and the right leader given the right powers can whip them into shape.
But, it has to be a Police Chief chosen by the people like we used to pick em.
Not one who impressed the Mayor with their macho moves on the Dignitary Detail like our new Mission thug Lieutenant station boss (probably already planning a violent reaction to the next World Famous skateboard ‘Hill Bomb’ that inspired a Polish friend’s young nephew to bring his skateboard when his family visited) …
Where was I when I interrupted myself ?
Yeah, there are 500,000 registered voters in San Francisco and they should get to watch a variety of candidates present their platforms starting now.
As it is, our young and very much a nice guy who listens, Daniel Lurie has chosen a path of Revenge over Reform and I’ve got a grad degree in this shit and the research shows he’s only going to make more young Latino convicts with his moves thus far.
Like I keep saying, Lurie has 7 and a half years left and he’s rational and independent to a degree and can completely turn things around.
I hope he does.
Elect our Police Chief !!
and, as always Go Niners !!!
h.
Are the negative votes from Seahawks fans?
Never surprised by rampant police racism. ‘Twas ever thus.
I needed a “’twas ever thus” in my life at this moment! We need Mr. Natural as chief or at least captain of Mission Station..
Lactating is hard work! Unlike riding around in an sfpd cruiser all day eating donuts and ignoring traffic violations.
Another superb, pithy article from Eleni B.
We are putting our money where our mouths, hearts, and minds are – with Mission Local. The piece on the SFPD Instagrams was no surprise but those Keystone Kops never fail to shock. Hang in there and don’t spend this all in one place.
Looks like the Smoke Eaters Gazette on Instagram. Lots of resentment about getting into the club.