tiburon police officer fired

TIBURON, Calif. (KGO) -- A Black business owner is speaking out after Tiburon police demanded proof he was the store's owner. Offensive text messages exchanged between police officers in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, California, have hit the news and brought a spotlight on systemic discriminatory practices within the department.. At no point during the 11-minute exchange did either Tiburon officer assert any potential criminal or suspicious activity was occurring beyond their mere presence in the building at that hour. Theyre the ones with the guns, theyre the ones with the badge, theyre the ones with the authority, she said. After it was over I was shaking, Awash said. Is it your store? The encounter escalated when the supervising sergeant arrived on scene. Persons seeking assistance need only lift the phone to be connected with a dispatcher. After the panel interviews, I met with each finalist for approximately 45 minutes to an hour, and then each finalist had the opportunity to tour the police station.. Blasi joined the Tiburon Police Department in June 2019. VIDEO: Man fired after blocking Latino man from entering his own apartment building in SF, "There was nothing suspicious about their activity," says one person. "There's three Black people in the store, what's the problem?" Khalif didn't answer the question, saying what people didn't see in the body cam video are the officers who had circled the business multiple times beforehand and had been watching them. The incident revolves around the officers assertions that because most Main Street businesses shut down about 9 or 10 p.m., and theyd never seen workers inside the shop at 1 a.m., Khalif was required to explain to the officers why they were inside and provide some physical evidence identification or a key in the door that he is the owner. Several months later, the store was named Tiburons Business of the Month. The finalists were interviewed in person at Town Hall on Jan. 26 by Scardina, Public Works Director Steve Palmer, Community Development Director Dina Tasini and Administrative Services Director Suzanne Creekmore. Despite resigning, Blasi will cooperate with an independent investigation led by a lawyer the town retained, Chanis said. Khalif said he was racially profiled in February while searching for business license documents in his car in the Town Hall parking lot. We are inside the store minding our business, All store lights are on and you can see us from outside because we have high windows all around the store. During the arrest, Grime fell unconscious and died in the hospital two days later. A video depicting Tiburon police officers in heated exchange with the owner of the town's only Black-owned business while working late in his downtown shop has sparked outrage in the. The Ark requested the body-camera footage, names of the involved officers and the full police report Aug. 24 and 25, but officials refused the request, saying they would not release any additional information until the conclusion of the investigation. Khalif refused. It first operated from 80 Main Street before moving in the late 70's into surplus military housing near its present site. I have a problem with you guys being here so late and you not telling me why, Madfes says. It first operated from 80 Main Street before moving in the late 70s into surplus military housing near its present site. Tiburon Mayor Alice Fredericks called their behavior unacceptable and issued a public apology, and she and Belvederes mayor each apologized personally to Khalif and Awash. She said that included conversations about how police officers can re-examine their implicit biases and eliminate their own fear on the job. At the conclusion of the investigation the report will be provided to the Town Manager for review and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigator, Cronin said. In another post, Blasi is asked what kind of behavior can get someone in trouble with the police, to which he responded, resisting a detention or arrest and failing to identify yourself or providing ID when directed by an officer., He also says he wouldnt recommend anyone become a police officer in todays environment, citing media and social-media scrutiny, internet armchair quarterbacks evaluating every real-time decision (and) unqualified and incompetent civilian-oversight committees that are usually someones bulls political agenda.. Thats where the concern should be right now the next Black man, not an apology to Yema.. Khalif: "If I tell you it's my store then what? We welcome and encourage your thoughts and comments. 49K views 2 years ago Tiburon has released footage from a police officer's body-worn camera of a controversial Friday night confrontation between police and a Black business owner who was. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Where people know me? Supervisor and another cop - who had his hand on his gun, by the way, showed up almost immediately. It was a nearby business owner who yelled to officers that Khalif owned the business, which diffused the situation. Two Tiburon police officials, Sergeant Michael Blasi and Police Chief Michael Cronin resigned September 1 and 13 following allegations of officers racially profiling a Black store owner in Tiburon. The newly-released bodycam video can be seen here. Blasi offered, and the town has accepted, his voluntary resignation., On the night of the alleged racial profiling incident, Khalif, his wife. Again, the exchange goes in circles, but tensions rise as Madfes shouts past Khalif to ask Awash and the friend, still standing at the checkout counter to the rear, Do one of you two here own the store or have any reason to be here?, Khalif speaks over him: No, do not talk to anybody, you talk to me, youre talking to me right now., Tensions escalate further when Madfes tells Khalif, This town is my duty to protect.. I do not have any intention of removing them at this time, Cronin said. Blasi made $10,122 a month. If you have a problem, you tell me . It was fear. The next day when I woke up, I was like, Holy s, what just happened?. I dont have to show anything to you, Khalif can be heard saying. The governing councils are to hold a joint online Town Hall-Community Forum on Aug. 27. Some days we have to work late. Chanis said 60 people provided public comment during the four-hour forum. Marin City Matters member Paul Austin said Blasis resignation is a step in the right direction, but there is more work to be done starting from the top down. Cronin will step down on Sept. 13 after serving 12 years as the chief of police, according to a statement released by Tiburon Town Manager Greg Chanis. Blasi has responded to numerous law enforcement-related questions on Quora, a question-and-answer website, over the last few years. Cronin quickly apologized, saying he stood in support of peaceful protests in Marin City and condemned racism, social injustice and police brutality. The confrontation also spurred a protest in front of the Tiburon Police Department on Saturday. The town announced Blasis resignation on Tuesday. The pension benefit was split because of a divorce. Khalif believes the best way Marin residents can express their solidarity is by not being bystanders to racist acts. Khalif said he, Awash and a friend were in the store doing inventory when he noticed a police vehicle circling the block. Michael Blasi, was, 2022 The Ark, AMMI Publishing Co. Inc. | 1550 Tiburon Blvd. After the video of the incident was posted on Yemas Instagram and went viral, discussion caught like wildfire across social media platforms. He said he was surrounded by officers who told him they were responding to a call about a person touching peoples cars.. Footage of the incident on August 21st can be seen on YEMAs Instagram (@Yemacalif). His tone not very like-able. Tiburon Town Manager Greg Chanis announced the resignation in a newsletter saying [Sgt. The county settled with Grimes family for nearly $1 million. Its unfortunate but I think good will come of this, Awash said. In a later interview, Awash pointed out that there are large posters on the stores walls of both she and Khalif modeling their clothing. CNN Pittsburgh has moved to fire five police officers after an internal investigation into the October death of a man involved in the suspected theft of a bicycle, officials said Wednesday. All Rights Reserved. The shop owners filed a $2 million claim against the town. Scott Adams faces consequence culture as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Rapid demise of Dilbert no surprise to some who were watching, Elon Musk tweets support for Dilbert creator Scott Adams after racist tirade. Khalif said when it became clear the officer wasnt understanding him, he asked the officer to call his supervisor. The protest, which featured a diverse array of Black speakers in the community, including Marin residents Paul Austin and Amber Allen-Peirson, called for police reformation, community reparations, and institutionalized changes to prevent further racial profiling. It was organized by Marin City Matters a social activist group created in response to police Chief Michael Cronins warning to residents on June 2 that Sausalito and Tiburon might be targets for unrest linked to a Marin City demonstration over the death of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis. Based on this belief, Sgt. Monaghans starting annual salary is $195,000, which is 3% less than Cronins salary, Chanis said. At 1 a.m. Saturday morning, Tiburon police officers saw three people inside the clothing store Yema on Main Street and decided to check it out. In 1999 the department moved into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd. A key component of that training is the expectation that our officers will utilize de-escalation techniques in situations like there. The newly released body-cam footage appears to highlight this further, with clearer audio than the cellphone footage that also shows a stark contrast between Blasis demeanor and that of Madfes, who speaks calmly throughout the first half of the video while Blasi then frequently shouts over Khalif and tells him he should be grateful. Other business owners have come forward to say that on the rare occasions they work late into the night, they've never been stopped and questioned at all, while Khalif was not only interrogated, Madfes had already called for backup before he first knocked on the door. The officers repeatedly asserted, however, that Khalif was required to show identification, but California does not have a stop-and-identify statue. Khalif said he wasnt particularly impressed with that statement. Critics of Khalif say he was argumentative and antagonizing the officers from the start, and that he could have just showed his ID and quickly ended the incident. How safe is your neighborhood? Then we see Tiburon police car patrolling. "Since becoming Police Chief in 2007, the impact of Mikes leadership has been significant for Tiburon," Chanis said. The Aug. 21 incident is the second time in recent months the Tiburon Police Department has come under public scrutiny for its response to racial issues in the wake of the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd and ensuing Black Lives Matter protests across the country, including several in Tiburon. About 2 minutes into the video, Khalif says that if Madfes has a problem, call your chief of police, call whoever you wanna call at which point Madfes acknowledges his supervisor, Blasi, is already on his way, consistent with Khalifs previous accounts of the incident. Put your key in the door and were out of here. "Had that white neighbor not said anything that night, maybe Yema wouldn't be here with us today and I would let that sink in for a minute," says Hawi Awash. Comment at the meeting, or in advance by emailing comments@townoftiburon.org. In a later interview, Simpson said he was concerned by the way the three officers were surrounding Khalif. VIDEO: Man fired after blocking Latino man from entering his own apartment building in SF. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A sixth Memphis officer was fired . Awash said she was shaking while recording the incident at the store because of the prior negative encounters with Tiburon police. Nearly all the comments expressed outrage with Tiburon police with calls to hold the officers accountable. Noah Griffin, a member of the towns Diversity Inclusion Task Force, said he was one of two African American members of the community panel that interviewed the finalists. Laurie is responsible for disaster preparedness, maintenance of the Emergency Operations Center and coordination of a wide range of related activities. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. TAKE ACTION: Find resources to help with equality, justice and race issues. 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Cronin denies his departure is linked to the incident. The neighbor, Ken Simpson, lives in his Main Street apartment part-time and said hes also accustomed to hearing noise from patrons and employees of downtown restaurants late at night, but the yelling that woke him up about 1:15 a.m. Aug. 21 sounded like it was escalating quickly. Proceeds from clothing sales help send orphans go to school. Next time, just walk and the audio and video cut out. September 8, 2020 / 7:45 PM D, Tiburon, CA 94920 | 415-435-2652 | Privacy Policy| Designed by Kevin Hessel. Khalif becomes increasingly frustrated as Blasis requirement shifts: Did you identify yourself? Their pictures are even on the store's walls. About 5 minutes into the footage, Blasi arrives on the scene, though Khalif notes that a third officer has also arrived a Belvedere patrol officer who is off screen but can be seen through the window in the separate video taken from inside the store and posted by Khalif to social media. Blasi was hired last year by the department after more than 15 years at the Marin County Sheriffs Office as a SWAT team leader, investigator and gang task-force officer. He went through the normal background check, Cronin said. And he wanted us to prove who we are. Matthew Tom has been working as a homepage editor at SFGATE since 2006. Critics also note the officers finally left without the proof they said was required for 11 minutes only when a white Main Street resident who overheard the confrontation shouted, Thats his store.. Khalif said despite previous negative encounters with police in town, he andAwash said they love Tiburon and the outpouring from the community, town manager and council members has given them hope. One of our business friend was visiting us from washing DC so he came with us. Really? Tiburon Town Hall | 1505 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA 94920 | Phone: 415-435-7373. Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. Khalif, a resident for nearly 10 years, says hes been stopped while walking home and had to prove that he lives in Tiburon. This street closes at 9 oclock at night, and theres never anybody in here. In 2004, Blasi was one of the deputies involved in a wrongful death lawsuit after a 47-year-old man named Cary Grime was arrested and hogtied in Novato. Police Chief Michael Cronin declined to directly comment on the Aug. 21 incident until the investigation has concluded, but he confirmed Blasi and the other officers involved would continue coming to work through the investigation. A video showing three Tiburon Peninsula police officers repeatedly questioning the identity of a Black business owner working in his Fountain Plaza clothing store about 1 a.m. Aug. 21 has sparked widespread outrage within the community and prompted town officials to order an independent investigation into the conduct of two of the officers. She said that included conversations about how police officers can re-examine their implicit biases and eliminate their own fear on the job. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Cause you dont sound like youre very grateful. Whatever the intention of the responding officers, the interchange inappropriately deteriorated from helpful to confrontational, Fredericks said in the statement, adding that Tiburon officers are trained and expected to de-escalate situations such as these. California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an independent investigation Wednesday into the Torrance Police Department after evidence emerged that officers were sharing racist and homophobic . IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Named among the state's & nation's best small weeklies, 2014, 2018-2021 California News Publishers Association &, Tiburon releases body-cam footage of police questioning Black merchant, About 6 minutes of cellphone footage of the encounter with the supervisor, Tiburon police Sgt. As Madfes approaches the store, Khalif, Awash and the friend can be seen inside at the checkout counter, apparently talking with each other. I do not have any intention of removing them at this time, Cronin said. The video circulating on social media was recorded on Khalifs friends cellphone from inside the store and was posted to Yemas Instagram account, where it has been viewed nearly 45,000 times, and to its Facebook page, where it has been shared nearly 1,000 times, each garnering hundreds of comments. Other downtown business owners rallied around the couple, saying theyve never been questioned by police while working late into the evening, past closing time, including Chelsea Ialeggio, a real-estate agent who said she has had offices in town with both Frank Howard Allen and now at Vanguard Properties. Maybe this happened to us because we can bring this out and make sure we have these conversations in our homes and with our families and loved ones and members of community and create something positive thats going to make Tiburon better for all of us, she said. NBCBLK 5 officers fired after Tyre Nichols' death were 'directly responsible' for his 'physical abuse,' police chief says Other officers remain under investigation in connection with a. Laurie can be reached at (415)789-2805. On Thursday, the city of Tiburon and city of Belvedere held a joint virtual community meeting with all sides reacting to the incident. Awash said other business owners work late at night and pointed to portraits of the couple that are clearly visible through the storefront window. On Aug. 21 at about 1 a.m., police officers confronted the couple, who were inside their shop. That's all we want to know. Then show me that its your store, said the officer. While Tiburon Police Chief Michael Cronin and Town Manager Greg Chanis have ordered an independent investigation into the incident, the results of which will be reviewed by the Town Council, Cronin said neither Blasi nor the two other officers involved would be suspended or put on administrative leave amid the investigation. Sept. 10, 2020 1:17 AM PT. Investigators said the incident occurred inside the Tiburon Police Department (TPD) locker room at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Dec. 12, The Ark reported. The Black owners of a business in Tiburon have settled a racial profiling claim with the town for $150,000 and the establishment of a police advisory council. I have been stopped for taking a walk to my house. Emergency Operations Center A Black business owner believes he was racially profiled by police as he was filling inventory inside his store last Friday at 1 a.m. The remaining footage is the body-camera perspective of the exchange previously recorded from inside the store and circulated on social media. Some police officers have used digital media to brag about their racially violent exploits. On the night of the alleged racial profiling incident, Khalif, his wife, and a business friend, all of whom are Black, were at their store late at night counting inventory, according to a post on YEMAs Instagram account. Is it your store that's all we want to know? Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. At least three large posters of Khalif and Awash modeling their clothes are visible on the rear wall throughout the footage. Cronin said he wasnt aware of Blasis involvement in the Grime case when the department hired him last year. The Tiburon Police Department was established in 1972 following the town's incorporation by eight years. The newly released footage begins about 6 minutes before that video begins, when Madfes is already parked on Tiburon Boulevard at Main Street and is getting out of his squad car. "Had that white neighbor not said anything that night, maybe Yema wouldn't be here with us today and I would let that sink in for a minute," Hawi Awash told ABC 7 News. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? @shaunking @beyonce @chakabars @lauraharrier @buzzfeed @nowthisnews @aljazeeraenglish @cnn @bbcnews @latimes @nytimes @wsj @ava @shondarhimes @kuz @kingjames @oprah @voguemagazine @essence @adutakech @tiffanyhaddish, A post shared by YEMA (@yemacalif) on Aug 21, 2020 at 3:33pm PDT. Another said, "I am incensed! Simpson, who is familiar with Khalif, said he was concerned by the way the three officers were surrounding him, so he yelled down to confirm Khalif was the owner. Michael Blasi, becoming more frustrated and confrontational with Khalif, who also appears exasperated with the interaction, as the minutes go by. At one point he stopped across our store for a good minute. After Floyds death and ahead of a peaceful June 2 protest in Marin City, Cronin sparked outrage among the community after he issued a statement warning residents to be wary should the demonstration become violent or lead to looting on the Tiburon Peninsula neither of which happened. Reporter Hannah Weikel and Assistant Editor Emily Lavin contributed to this report. Ive not been feeling the reality of it. Based on this belief, Sgt. CNN values your feedback 1. A video of the incident that Awash recorded was widely shared on social media, and the town released police body-camera footage. Ultimately, I sign off on every hire for the town, Chanis said. There's video of the interaction and an investigation underway. Cronin quickly apologized, saying he stood in support of peaceful protests in Marin City and condemned racism, social injustice and police brutality. A Black man can not say that, but a white man can.. He opened the store this past February and says it's not unusual for them to work late into the night. Awash characterized the conversation as positive. They opened the athletic apparel boutique in February. That seemed to satisfy the officers, and they promptly left without the proof they had demanded for roughly 10 minutes. Lewis Powell, Sgt. The department also updated its use-of-force policy to align with calls to de-escalate police encounters with the public. Blasi offered, and the town has accepted, his voluntary resignation." ", Supervisor: "Then show me that it's your store. The officers immediately left the store. Khalif said he was entitled to be in the store, had no obligation to identify himself and accused police of being suspicious because the store occupants were Black. In it, the officers, who first note that Khalif is in the store at 1 a.m., past the typical 9 p.m. shut-down time for activity on the street, can be heard repeatedly demanding that Khalif prove his ownership of the business, either by showing identification or putting his key in the shops door. VIDEO: Berkeley mom films confrontation with white man who ripped down Black Lives Matter signs, Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, FL Gov.

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