A recently demoted member of the San Francisco police command has filed a damage claim against the city, saying Police Chief Heather Fong was "irrational" when she stripped him of authority for his supposed role in an incident in which his son, a rookie officer, was accused of an off-duty act of domestic abuse...Previous entries:
- [CA] No dv report written on SFPD Asst. Chief Tacchini's officer son- .... Authorities within the department, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the matter was mishandled and created an appearance of cover-up. "I think that there is an incident report that should have been made," said one of the authorities said. "This thing was bungled"...
- [CA] After cop-son's dv, Dep. Chief Tacchini demoted to $163,000.00- ...The elder Tacchini came under scrutiny because of questions about what role he may have had in the decision-making related to his own son and the incident. He has not commented on the matter and remains on a two-week vacation...
Ex-deputy police chief files claim against citySan Francisco Chronicle
Jaxon Van Derbeken jvanderbeken@sfchronicle.com
Saturday, June 21, 2008
A recently demoted member of the San Francisco police command has filed a damage claim against the city, saying Police Chief Heather Fong was "irrational" when she stripped him of authority for his supposed role in an incident in which his son, a rookie officer, was accused of an off-duty act of domestic abuse. Former Deputy Chief Stephen Tacchini was reduced in rank to captain in February by Fong, who sent him a letter that suggested he had "inappropriate" contact with another police official related to the Jan. 19 domestic abuse call involving Tacchini's son, James Tacchini. At the time, authorities close to the case told The Chronicle that Fong had demoted Stephen Tacchini after discovering apparent contradictions in his version of what happened early that morning. The incident began with a 911 domestic abuse call from a man who said a woman had told him that she had been threatened by her boyfriend, who turned out to be Tacchini's son... After several minutes, the police supervisor at the scene consulted Tacchini's father, who was in charge of all patrol functions at the department... the supervisor decided not to make a police report about the domestic violence call and police investigation. UNDER POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY, OFFICERS ARE SUPPOSED TO DOCUMENT ANY ALLEGATIONS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE OR VIOLENCE... Tacchini asserts that the demotion constituted improper discipline and that Fong's actions were "arbitrary, capricious, pretextual and irrational." He is seeking restoration of his salary and benefits and unspecified compensation for damage to his reputation as well as "public embarrassment and humiliation"... The city has 45 days to respond to the claim, which is commonly a precursor to a lawsuit... Tacchini said that because the action could damage his future prospects, he should be entitled to a disciplinary hearing to answer the allegations. [Full article here]
What's a policy if no one makes it important? There's a policy, it was violated, and Tacchini wants the slap on the wrist he thinks he deserves.
ReplyDeleteThat is not how a policy will come to be respected.
Chief Fong you have drawn respect not only to your leadership, but to your department.
It's not individual officers who make a department look good or bad - but the leadership.
I first learned about Police Chief Fong while watching Miss Representation. When I was scrilling through news articles, I instantly recognized her face. It's not uncommon for men in fields like this ti puah back against female leaders. She is a role model for me and many women and I hope she will always stand her ground and I hope she goes far. :)
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