US Federal Court Hands Down Guilty Verdicts Against 2 SF Officers

Today, guilty verdicts were handed down in Federal Court against Sergeant Ian Furminger and Officer Edmond Robles. These verdicts come as a result of an FBI investigation initiated in March 2011, with which the San Francisco Police Department fully cooperated, into alleged warrantless searches captured on video. The convicted officers have been suspended without pay since the day of their initial arrest in February earlier this year.

As I said on the day I was sworn in as Chief of Police, and repeated on the day these officers were arrested when asked about this ongoing investigation, “There is no place in the San Francisco Police Department – and shouldn’t be in any police department - for a dishonest cop.” I meant what I said. I am seeking the immediate termination of these officers and expect that the Police Commission will act expeditiously in making that happen. Further, the San Francisco Retirement System will receive the requisite paperwork so as to terminate any future pension consideration, as appropriate.

I am grateful to US Attorney Melinda Haag and her office and to FBI Special Agent in Charge David Johnson and his office for their thorough and comprehensive investigation into this matter.

Of the many concerns my administration inherited from past administrations, this investigation – by far as the public’s trust is everything to us (SFPD) – has been of the gravest concern. These officers have not only betrayed the public’s trust but also the trust of the honest hard working men and women of this proud department who work so hard to keep this great City safe.

Federal authorities have represented no evidence was found that the conduct of these few officers, as alleged, is an indicator of a larger “systemic concern” within the SFPD. I want to assure the public that policies, procedures, and on-going training to these policies and procedures, along with additional supervision of officers working in plainclothes, have been put in place during the first weeks of my administration to safeguard against even the suggestion of anything like this happening again.