A slew of racist and homophobic text messages allegedly exchanged by the San Francisco police department have called into question thousands of arrests as prosecutors say the texts show the police were biased against certain groups.
New text messages obtained by CNN and reported Tuesday show officer Jason Lai, who just resigned, allegedly sending and receiving texts saying things like “Fuck that nig” and “Indian ppl are disgusting.” The texts came out as part of an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Lai.
“I hate that beaner, but I think the nig is worse,” says another text. The texts also refer to black people as “barbarians” and “wild animals.” The officers also used a code to call people gay, sources tell CNN. One text says “Passive aggressive 528,” which uses the fire code 528 to call someone a “flaming” homosexual.
Four officers were connected to the texts with Lai. Three no longer work with the force and one is being disciplined.
“As with any big organization, you’re going to have people who are not as you would have them be,” San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr told SF Gate. “As soon as I found out about it, I took swift action. I think all the honorable men and women who serve this department know I give no quarter to this kind of thing.”
The texts come as the department is already under investigation for racist text messages revealed by court documents in March, 2015. Those earlier texts include insults to a range of ethnic groups and make use of the phrase “white power.”
District Attorney George Gascon formed a panel to investigate whether bias in the police department led to wrongful convictions. About 3,000 cases are being reviewed and a few have already been dismissed.
Suhr attempted to fire eight of the cops but a judge ruled he could not because he delayed so long in disciplining them. That ruling is being appealed.
Documents reported by KQED in March of 2015 show the first round of texts between multiple officers that ran the gamut of racism and homophobia, taking shots at several minorities while calling multiple people “fags.”
The texts came to light when former Sgt. Ian Furminger, convicted in December of 2014 for his role in stealing from drug suspects, attempted to get out on bail while awaiting appeal. Prosecutors bent on making sure that didn’t happen used the text messages against him.
Straight from the court documents, here are some of Furminger’s worst alleged texts:
- “We got two blacks at my boys [sic] school and they are brother and sister! There cause dadworks for the school district and I am watching them like hawks.”
- In response to a text saying, “Do you celebrate quanza [sic] at your school?” Furminger replied:“Yeah we burn the cross on the field! Then we celebrate Whitemas.”
- “Its [sic] worth every penny to live here [Walnut Creek] away from the savages.”
- “Those guys are pretty stupid! Ask some dumb ass questions you would expect from a blackrookie! Sorry if they are your buddies!”
- “The buffalo soldier was why the Indians Wouldnt [sic] shoot the niggers that found for theconfederate They [sic] thought they were sacred buffalo and not human.”
- “My wife has 2 friends over that don’t know each other the cool one says to me get me a drinknigger not knowing the other is married to one just happened right now LMFAO.”
- In response to a text saying “Niggers should be spayed,” Furminger replied: “I saw one an hourago with 4 kids.”
- “I am leaving it like it is, painting KKK on the sides and calling it a day!”
- “Cross burning lowers blood pressure! I did the test myself!”
- In response to a text saying “All niggers must fucking hang,” Furminger replied: “Ask my 6 yearold what he thinks about Obama.”
- In response to a text saying “Just boarded train at Mission/16th,” Furminger replied: “Ok, justwatch out for BM’s” [black males].
- “I hate to tell you this but my wife friend [sic] is over with their kids and her husband is black!If [sic] is an Attorney but should I be worried?” Furminger’s friend, an SFPD officer, replied: “Get ur pocket gun. Keep it available in case the monkey returns to his roots. Its[sic] not against the law to put an animal down.” Furminger responded, “Well said!”
- In response to a text from a different SFPD officer about the promotion of a black officer, Furminger wrote: “Fuckin nigger.”
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