San Francisco Police Union Endorses Acting Chief Toney Chaplin As 'Cops' Cop'

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The radio ad by San Francisco Police Officer's Association is clear: The residents of our city deserve a police department that talks the talk and walks the walk. Chief Toney Chaplin is the right leader at the right time.

Acting Chief Toney Chaplin has faced a firestorm of criticism and threats since his appointment. Now those who don't want Chaplin for the job are taking aim at the police officer's association for endorsing him.

Listen to the full radio ad here:
http://sfpoa.org/radio/SFPOA60090116.mp3
 

Former American Civil Liberties Union lawyer John Crew said, "The POA has already decided, already decided that there possibly can't be anyone better."

Crew says it's too soon for endorsements and that he takes issue with the wording of the minute-long ad, which claims Chaplin is a "cop's cop."

Crew said he believes a cop's cop "is coded language in police union world for someone who may not have management experience but will be loyal to the union rather than to the public."

The radio ad, voiced by SFPOA President Martin Halloran, opposes the hiring of outside police accountability consultant Barbara Attard.

Attard said, "The POA is clearly trying to influence the outcome. They have decided that Toney Chaplin is their guy and they are pushing the commission and the Mayor to hire him. What we want is a fair and transparent process."

But a member of the commission told KPIX 5 that despite concerns, fair and transparent is what the public will get.

San Francisco Police Commissioner Dr. Joseph Marshall said, "There is no fix. The commissioners will vet everybody no matter who they are and at this point we don't know who the names are."

And that the POA's ad will not factor into decision-making.

Marshall said, "What I want everyone to rest assured about is that no one gets an advantage because somebody wants somebody to get the job."