Independent probe launched into Oakland cop tactics at Occupy protests

[alp227]

Ellen Huet, San Francisco Chronicle

Oakland city officials today announced the launch of an independent investigation into police force at two different clashes with protesters in late October and early November.

Police tactics including the use of tear gas while responding to Oct. 25 Occupy Oakland protests prompted the mayor, city administrator and police chief to seek an outside investigation alongside the police department's internal investigation, city spokeswoman Karen Boyd said.

Tom Frazier, a former Baltimore police commissioner and former San Jose deputy police chief, will be leading the probe with a team of three former police officers.

The investigation will also focus on police actions in reaction to the Occupy-led Nov. 2 shutdown of Oakland Port operations.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/21/BAE61MFCP0.DTL

[brooklynite]

1. So, if I'm supposed to believe...

...that there's an organized effort by municipal officials to suppress the Occupy message, I have to believe the same officials are allowing an investigation into their tactics?

[barbtries]

2. did i read that right?

all the investigators are LEO?

[sabrina 1]

4. No, you're supposed to believe that 'retired' police officials will be more 'independent'

than 'not retired' police officials.

Demands for an investigation have not let up, as was obvious at the last town hall meeting. When the police nearly kill two Iraq War Veterans who were peacefully exercising their rights, which, they are told, they put their lives on the line for, damn straight there needs to be an investigation.

I hope it includes the question of why our civilian police, the Oakland PD specifically, were training alongside the Bahrain Police, the same police who are currently killing protesters in their own country, just weeks before the attacks on American citizens by them.

And who the police without badges or any form of ID, actually were.

Also the ID of the police officers who deliberately targeted both Scott Olsen and Kayvan Sabeghi and that charges will be filed against them for attempted murder.

[99th_Monkey]

3. Nice. An "independent" investigation by 100% retired police coommisioners & cops. lol.

independent my ass

[ixion]

5. how 'independent' can it be if everyone on the 'independent' commission is a retired cop?

I don't see much independence there at all.