The Advocate

(Picture by Sheyda Sabetian.) SLPD Sergeant Robert Sanchez has been charged with embezzling and misappropriation of public funds. In plain language: Sanchez was stealing through fraud and corruption. Local news reports are available at here and here . However, I’m sure many of you – like me – found out via the city’s Nixle alert system. What’s interesting is how San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter and San Leandro Police Chief Jeff Tudor were able to make such timely and heartfelt statements when it comes to misconduct over money, but not for the murders of Steven Taylor or Anthony Gomez. Indeed, I wonder why immediate action can be taken in the case of this property crime but not for violent crime against innocent citizens? It took months of public pressure, letters, petitions, social media campaigns, and video evidence, as well as a bevy of new laws based on the burgeoning outcry against police brutality just for Jason Fletcher to be charged for killing Steven Taylor. Either the law gov...

(Photo by CBS San Francisco.) Well, it has been just two months since an SLPD officer shot someone. See here for the local reports . I have a lot of questions about this specific encounter, but the most pressing one is this: when does it stop I understand the details of this incident are concerning and still unfolding. What we do know: a traffic violation leads to a pursuit. A couple of hours later, officers in an undercover vehicle remain behind, and end up shooting at another person because they have a gun. Now, self-defense I get. But since when do the "good guys" shoot first and ask questions later nearly every single time? SLPD needs to change its policy on high-speed car chases . They need to stop overpolicing minor traffic violations . Lastly, we need to actually use de-escalation tactics coupled with real accountability and supervision. Chief Tudor says we have a progressive police department. He says we have a department that uses de-escalation tactics, as well as ...