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Fong aims to test her shooting skills
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SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - The City’s police chief may be a little rusty with her gun. Or her handgun, an outdated Beretta, may be a little rusty.
Either way, Chief Heather Fong will put both her gun and her skills to the test soon in the wake of a letter sent to city officials Monday by a reassigned officer who revealed that the chief of police hasn’t shown up to the department’s biannual shooting range certification in about five years.
In addition, Fong still carries a handgun that was phased out in 2004 when the Police Department required all officers to switch to the newer SIGSauer .40-caliber handguns.
“The duties of a police chief are demanding and time consuming,” Fong said in a statement. “I acknowledge that I have not scheduled time for firearm requalifications. This will be addressed for future requalifications.”
That may happen within the month, according to the latest department bulletin, calling a range of badge numbers, including Fong’s 2020, to a shooting-range certification.
The Police Department operates two shooting ranges, one near Lake Merced and another at San Francisco International Airport. All police officers who carry firearms must test their skills at the range twice a year, according to the bulletin.
The letter was written by Officer Andrew Cohen, who was sent to an administrative position after producing a series of offensive video vignettes in 2005. It was sent to the Police Commission, Mayor’s Office, Board of Supervisors and several other city leaders. It called for an immediate investigation from both the department’s management control division and the Police Commission, which meets this evening.
“I know the Chief is busy and an occasional lapse or nonappearance may be justified, however ten consecutive failures to qualify are simply outrageous and insulting to all the men and women of the department,” the letter said.
Comments from Examiner Readers
2:02 AM MST on Thu., Jul. 10, 2008 re: "Police officer reaches out to victims"
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Examiner Reader said:
Ok why does it have to take 3 times to talk to someone at a police station and you just cant give them the information. Why does it takes so long to get someone out to the scene of a crime and byt the time they get there the perps are all gone. What are all the cops doing that it takes 10 minutes to get to a call. People get hurt I know they all can't be there 24/7 but get a better system!!!!
2 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
We need more people and police officers like Sgt. Robert Bohanan. He is one of the most treasured and respected police officer ever and that the San Francisco Police Department is so lucky to have such a compassionate and sweet man like Officer Bohanan.
1 agree | 1 disagree
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Supes Do Nothing About Violent Crime said:
Kudos to Bohanan for checking in the victims of crime. Ironic (indeed, hypocritical) that the Board of Supervisors praises him for his work, since they do absolutely nothing to address the spriraling crime rate in this city, and don't feel an iota of compassion for those who are victimized by it. They're content to trot out the same stale rhetoric about crime being rooted in racism, economic marginalization, etc., etc. Daly, who's District 6 has one of the highest crime rates in the city, is especially disinterested; those who call his office are invariably advised that there's "nothing he can do," i.e. that he could care less. And Mirkarimi, who likewise ostensibly represents a district plagued by crime, is too busy passing stupid resolutions banning grocery store chains from using plastic bags to address the real, concrete problems confronting his constituents. Someone please advise me - why are we paying these parasites almost $100,000 a year?
2 agree | 1 disagree
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No Suprised said:
Democrats like Fong believe there are two sets of rules. One for me and one for thee. Only the little people have to follow department rules, right?
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Examiner Reader said:
Fong represents the exact foundation that the department has been known for years prior. It is so political....it borderlines, "corruption". I think it is a true justice to have Officer Cohen speak out and tell the truth of why biases occurrs at every level. Sadly, being "chief of police", one would hope that the command staff was informed, or the range master should have told her staff. But as you can clearly see, it takes an bitter-insider to point the finger at his boss, where no one else would.......fearing retaliation from the top down. I hope that her staff would stop 'stonewalling' all the issues going on and speak up to what is fair and just. Oh yeah, then again, we are talking about SFPD. I wonder if the Mayor is going to hold a press conference, what a waste of citizen's time and money!! The Police Commission should opt for her to resign asap, and retire. Why should Fong continue to be stomped on, when she's down. Fong needs to go...Change is good.
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Examiner Reader said:
Heather Fong should have been disciplined for her deliberate act of not qualifying at the range for FIVE consecutive years. If a regular officer missed qualifications for FIVE years, that officer would have immediately been degunned & brought up on charges for violating department general orders. Why is Chief Fong exempt from discipline or prosecution. THen again, why is Fong carrying a gun anyway? It's not like she's going to use it to defend the citizens of San Francisco. Heather Fong is a true coward in every sense, and she's nothing more than a political puppet for Newsom. This is definitely one of the darkest day in SFPD history!
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Disappointed with SF said:
Why is it that Fong is given a pass on violating department policy by commisioner Marshall. She passes judgement on cops that violate the same rules. What a piece of crap. Why does she have thirteen member command staff. Pass some of the work to these people. I'm sure Newsom will cover this up just like he covered up the fire chief when she clobbered her husband with a heavy glass. It was a personal family issue. If it was anyone else they would have been booked. I hope this pinhead does not make it to the state capital. He might make the idiot Fong head of the Department of Justice, then the whole state will be screwed. Ah San Francisco, Bagdad by the bay.
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Examiner Reader said:
This is one of the funniest stories I have read in a long time. I wonder if Cheap Leather Thong knows which end of the gun to aim down range. This is a photo opp for sure. Calamity Jane in action!!
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jay kay said:
SFPD does not get 100% retirement. Get your facts straight before you post it you dumb liberal morons! If you are a "lowly patrol sergeant", they top out at $98k per year. And after 20yrs of babysitting pot smoking, inmate/criminal loving citizens of san francisco, at 3% per year retirement, which comes out to 60% of your total pay (3%X20=60percent), then you will get a pension of 58.8k per year. That is not much to live on. And yes, they DO pay for their medical after retirement! And this 3% per year formula is mandated by the state PERS (public employee retirement system). That means every firemen, corrections, and law enforcment officers get it, not just sfpd.
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Examiner Reader said:
the wages, benefits, and retirement of SFPDees members is outrageous. It is my understanding, that a lowly patrol sergeant retires at approximately $100,000 a year plus free medical benefits. That's $100,000 per year plus cost of living raises. Police deserve a living wage, however, their retirement benefits are outrageous. I might add that most of SFPD lives out of San Francisco and do not patronize local business. The system needs to be changed... Retired, SFPD member
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Examiner Reader said:
When, not if, you become a victim, where will you turn to for help? SF Police DO NOT retire at 100%. Get your facts straight!
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Examiner Reader said:
As someone who knew the victim, I can assure you there was NO drug counseling going on, nor was there a drug counselor present. This person had no experience as a drug counselor and misrepresented herself (using a legitimate license) hoping to get prop 36 funding.
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