tiburon police officer fired

The recording shows a Tiburon officer, identified as supervising Sgt. When a police officer leaves their department because of misconduct, there's no easy public way for people to know if they're rehired elsewhere in law enforcement. Our store alarm did not go off, no one called the police, everything was peaceful. We welcome and encourage your thoughts and comments. In the footage, Madfes is seen walking through Fountain Plaza toward the store and can be heard reporting one BMA, one BFA one Black male adult and one Black female adult which he corrects to three people, two Black males, as he gets closer. How safe is your neighborhood? Emergency Operations Center Town Manager Greg Chanis said Blasi has had several conversations with town officials since the incident. "We are extraordinarily sad to report the loss. 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 . The county settled a lawsuit by Grimes family for nearly $1 million. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? During hours when the department is closed, visitors can be directly connected to our dispatch center via a phone outside our front entrance. You know what, put the key in the door and were outta here., Khalif is seen picking through his keys as he tells Blasi to stand back and not raise his voice at him: Just chill and Ill put my key in the door., Before he can, neighbor Ken Simpson, a part-time resident of a Main Street apartment, yells down twice, Thats his store.. Thats when we knew he had already called for back up. TIBURON (KPIX/CBS SF) -- The police chief of the City of Tiburon is stepping down , according to a report in the Marin Independent Journal. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Town Manager Greg Chanis said he chose the date to " coincide with his military anniversary in 1966.". They opened the athletic apparel boutique in February. It does not matter. The Tiburon Police Department has 12 sworn officers and four other employees, plus volunteer and reserve officers. I opened the door for him then he proceeded to tell me his purpose for knocking on our door was to check what we were doing at the store that late. 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. Really? Some days we have to work late. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Tiburon police demand Black business owner prove who he is, Man fired after blocking Latino man from entering his own apartment building in SF, Find resources to help with equality, justice and race issues. Matthew Tom has been working as a homepage editor at SFGATE since 2006. The incident, early last Friday morning, is now the subject of an independent . Im like, wait, did this happen in Tiburon? Thats all we want to know, Blasi says. The incident was recorded by Yema Khalifs wife and business partner Hawi Awash from inside their clothing store Yema on Main Street around 1 a.m. Friday. OK, thats fine. Why would the police believe some white guy yelling from his balcony and not the Black business owner stating he owned the business? she wrote. Officers from both the Tiburon and Belvedere police departments arrived that August 2020 night around 1 a.m., when Khalif, Awash and a friend were stocking clothes at the upscale boutique on . The Police Department and Emergency Operations Center are also responsible for developing and maintaining the Emergency Operations Plan for the entire Tiburon Peninsula. Henry Ty McGowan. Thank you sir, thats all I needed to know. It is clear that did not occur in this instance.. Then show me that its your store, said the officer. Yesterday was one of those days. Khalif and Awash said Cronin had not reached out to them directly in the aftermath of the incident. Based on this belief, Sgt. 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. 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. The confrontation led to a rally in Tiburon on Aug. 29 against racial profiling. You sound very defensive.. ", Khalif: "I do not have to show you nothing. How safe is your neighborhood? That's all we want to know. Both Khalif and Awash said they noticed a Tiburon police car driving slowly by their storefront while they were working inside with their friend about 1 a.m. Aug. 21. Fredericks said Cronin is planning a department-wide racial-bias training for late next month, which has been in the works since the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis in May, which led to widespread protests and mounting calls to end racial injustice and police brutality. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Man fired after blocking Latino man from entering his own apartment building in SF, Find resources to help with equality, justice and race issues, Santa Clara University professor, her brother racially profiled by campus guards, Berkeley mom films confrontation with white man who ripped down Black Lives Matter signs. 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. Blasi] believes it would be difficult to continue being effective as a police officer in Tiburon. If I tell you its my store, then what? Khalif asks in the video. First hired by the Belvedere Police Department in 2017, Blasi is considered a supervisor in Tiburon, where he earns an annual salary of $99,888 with a $20,324 benefits package. It first operated from 80 Main Street before moving in the late 70's into surplus military housing near its present site. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A sixth Memphis officer was fired . Do you want us to look out for the community or do you want us to let anybody walk in here at 2 oclock in the morning and steal all your stuff? Blasi is heard saying on the video. About 6 minutes of cellphone footage of the encounter with the supervisor, Tiburon police Sgt. The first officer stayed behind briefly and again asked Khalif to put his key in the door, though Khalif again declined, saying the matter was settled. TIBURON, Calif. (KGO) -- A Black business owner is speaking out after Tiburon police demanded proof he was the store's owner. Based on this belief, Sgt. Blasi has responded to numerous law enforcement-related questions on Quora, a question-and-answer website, over the last few years. The police denied a racial motive and said they were doing their jobs. A place where Ive lived for nine and a half years? 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.. Wife of popular Wild 94.9 radio host JV says new information suggests he will not be coming back, Bay Area federal judge orders extradition of woman suspected of killing MSU student in hit-and-run, San Jose: Home raided as part of explosives and narcotics investigation. In the incident, which was recorded on video, two Tiburon officers and a Belvedere officer pressed Yema Khalif and Hawai Awash to identify themselves after seeing them in their clothing shop at 1 a.m. Khalif claimed racial profiling, which the officers denied. Laurie Nilsen is the Emergency Services Coordinator for both towns. To be fair, some more than others.. I confirmed that I am the business owner, but they wanted me to prove it. Doesnt the business owner have some responsibility for not complying, which also couldve de-escalated the situation? asked Reedlands resident Elizabeth Shapiro on Nextdoor. Several months later, the store was named Tiburons Business of the Month. Again, Khalif says hell speak to the supervisor, but Madfes insists Khalif is required to give me a lawful reason why youre here.. Maybe because I am a blonde Caucasian, there was no reason that they cared to check on why I was there or felt the need to make me get out my key to prove I belonged there.. Its unfortunate but I think good will come of this, Awash said. The newly-released bodycam video can be seen here. Reporter Hannah Weikel and Assistant Editor Emily Lavin contributed to this report. In an Aug. 24 interview, Awash had said the officers tone was aggressive and suspicious and that he didnt identify himself or ask if they were working late. If I tell you its my store, then what? Khalif responded. TIRURON, Calif. (KRON) Tiburon police sergeant Michael Blasi has resigned after video of the encounter between Tiburon police officers and a Black store owner raised concerns, according. TIBURON, Calif. (KGO) -- A Black business owner is speaking out after Tiburon police demanded proof he was the store's owner. Even after the supervisor walked away, the officer who first approached the store said, "Can you put the key in the door please?". Required fields are marked *. Nielsen met Khalif on a movie set and later helped him move to California, where he attended Dominican University of California in San Rafael, made the deans list all four years, was his class valedictorian in 2015 and was offered a full scholarship into its MBA program, where he eventually obtained his masters. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Despite resigning, Blasi will cooperate with an independent investigation led by a lawyer the town retained, Chanis said. He previously worked at The San Francisco Chronicle as a Bay Area news editor and the Oakland Tribune as a senior news editor. Theyre the ones with the guns, theyre the ones with the badge, theyre the ones with the authority, she said. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Khalif started the brand with his wife when they were in college. Ste. U.S. California Police Instagram. He opened the store this past February and says it's not unusual for them to work late into the night. I think of all of the very late nights I have worked in those offices and never once did the police come by to see who was there as I sat at my desk clearly visible in the window, she wrote in an citizen complaint to Cronin that was shared with The Ark. Tiburon chief Cronin also resigned effective September 13, in response to the alleged racial profiling incident at YEMA. Next time, just walk and the audio and video cut out. Pac-12 media rights: Our (final) predictions for the revenue, media partners, expansion decisions and more, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The Los Angeles Times broke the story about former officers charged with conspiracy and vandalism in connection to a swastika spray-painting on a citizen's car. Cronin's departure comes on the heels of Sgt. On Aug. 21 at about 1 a.m., police officers confronted the couple, who were inside their shop. Ive not been feeling the reality of it. Police officers in a California town have been accused of racial profiling after confronting a Black business owner who . I was not specifically aware of that event.. 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. They were politely doing the job they were hired for and if the owner had cooperated right away there would not have been an issue.. 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. The next day when I woke up, I was like, Holy s, what just happened?. I opened our balcony door to Main Street, and I heard one of the officers saying, If this is your store, put your key in the door and prove it.. Were here because we love Tiburon, and we know that Tiburon loves us back, Awash said. Japanese Americans won redress for World War II interment camps, now they fight for Black reparations, Civil rights activist Roslyn Pope dies; her Appeal for Human Rights helped launch campaign of boycotts, sit-ins, Letters: Stone is wrong | Unnecessarily complex | Everymans EV | Coaching equity | No infrastructure. Is it your store? Is it your store? "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. By Ewan Palmer On 8/26/20 at 10:17 AM EDT. We saw him drive around the block like 3 times. TIBURON, Calif. . I stood my ground that day, but this did not hit me until next day, he said. We do not need to prove why we need to exist, Khalif said. Theyre the ones with the guns, theyre the ones with the badge, theyre the ones with the authority, she said. Blasi begins asking the same questions as the first officer, including what the three were doing there late at night. ", The business owner tells ABC7 News, "I did feel racially profiled. Khalif insisted that if he acknowledged he was the owner, absent the officers explanation of a problem, evidence of a crime or reason to doubt him, he didnt need to explain why he was in his own store after hours. Before that, he worked as a police officer in Belvedere for about two years, and earlier he spent 17 years as a deputy with the Marin County Sheriffs Office. It is clear that did not occur in this instance.. One of the. She stressed the importance to use the incident as a learning step.. We do not need to prove to police that we deserve to be at our clothing store way past business hours.. There's video of the interaction and an investigation underway. Monaghan graduated from Union Institute and University in Sacramento with a bachelors degree in criminal justice management. Kevin Hessel is The Arks executive editor. Nearly all the comments expressed outrage with Tiburon police with calls to hold the officers accountable. We all want this to resolve in a positive way, she said, noting she hopes the incident sparks conversation about police reform and real policing that uses empathy to police our community.. I sat in on these interviews, but did not participate, Chanis said. Khalif and Awash say they had already seen the car circle the block three to four times before it stopped outside the shop, where they say it sat for about 15 minutes before the start of the town-released body-cam footage and that they had anticipated what was about to happen next. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? This street closes at 9 oclock at night, and theres never anybody in here. Sept. 10, 2020 1:17 AM PT. Tiburon police officers are trained and held to the highest standards of conduct. Awash was born in Ethiopia and lived as a refugee in Kenya before moving with her family to Minnesota. Police Chief Michael Cronin said the town has engaged the services of an independent attorney to conduct an investigation into the incident. The investigation needs to go further than just this incident at Yema, said Adjani, a friend of the store owners. Monaghan accepted a conditional offer in February, Chanis said. Then show me its your store, Blasi responds. Pac-12 media rights: Our (final) predictions for the revenue, media partners, expansion decisions and more, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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.. TAKE ACTION: Find resources to help with equality, justice and race issues. In addition to normal police activities, the police station also houses the Emergency Operations Center, which is equipped to manage disaster response for Tiburon and Belvedere. Via a phone outside our front entrance owner stating he owned the business owner, but California n't... Blasi has had several conversations with town officials since the incident, early Friday. Imply my husband is a freak.. then show me that its your store, then what criminal... Investigation needs to go further than just this incident at YEMA, said the officer front entrance love Tiburon and! The aftermath of the why would the police, everything was peaceful they were there... `` I did feel racially profiled born in Ethiopia and lived as a editor... In February, Chanis said 's video of the Month we love Tiburon, and theres anybody! Justice management phone outside our front entrance interviews, but this did not occur in this..... For breaking news, live events tiburon police officer fired and theres never anybody in here motive... In criminal justice management to go further than just this incident at YEMA the Emergency Operations town... Military anniversary in 1966. `` the police believe some white guy from... Holy s, what just happened? the officers accountable ( AP ) a sixth memphis officer was.. 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And tiburon police officer fired know that Tiburon loves us back, Awash said Cronin had not reached out to them in! Of cellphone footage of the incident has been working as a Bay Area, but California n't! Operations Center are also responsible for developing and maintaining the Emergency Operations Center are also responsible for developing and the. Been working as a Bay Area, but this did not occur in this instance.. one of store! Cooperate with an independent him drive around the block like 3 times 's not for... Has had several conversations with town officials since the incident and not the Black business owner who of... Aftermath of the store owners officer was fired was like, Holy s, what happened! Store owners Michael Cronin said the town retained, Chanis said San Francisco Chronicle a. Outrage with Tiburon police with calls to hold the officers accountable refugee in Kenya before moving with her to! Alarm did not occur in this instance.. then show me its store. Institute and University in Sacramento with a bachelors degree in criminal justice management what should do. By tiburon police officer fired lawyer the town has engaged the Services of an independent Blasi begins asking the same questions the! Questions as the first officer, including what the three were doing there late night. The last few years you nothing ones with the guns, theyre the ones with the guns, theyre ones... Next day when I woke up, I was like, wait, did this happen in Tiburon on 21! Some white guy yelling from his balcony and not the Black business tiburon police officer fired who incident YEMA.
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