Mayor Will Not Be A “Cops Gone Wild” Defendant

US District Judge Susan Illston has ruled on motions in the “Cops Gone Wild” case.

Eighteen SFPD officers are suing the city and Police Chief Heather Fong for racial discrimination under state law, racial discrimination under Title VII, retaliation under state law, retaliation under Title VII, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It centers around a news conference in which the chief and Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the officers were being suspended for participating in the Bayview station spoof video.

The officers’ lawyers wanted to add Mayor Newsom to the case with a defamation complaint, but the judge turned them down saying the mayor is immune. The City Attorney’s Office wanted to remove Chief Fong as a defendant in the case, but she’s still in.

After our report last week with excerpts from Chief Fong’s deposition and our "Lawyers Gone Wild" blog, the City Attorney’s Office is going for a gag order. We’ll be there in Federal Court when it’s heard tomorrow.

Comments

[Fatima]

The Mayor is immune when he was the one who committed the crime? There is no executive privilege in civil rights cases, not in this case. The judge's ruling should be appealed.

And please fight the gag order on Chief Fong, we are having way too much fun watching these morons destroy the city.

[steve jones]

why do you think the department is in an uproar. she had truly brought this department to an all time low. the department nor its citizens is serving well.....this is a historical all time low....250k a year and cant make a decision. FIRE HER NOW

[paulo chicknelle]

newsom is an idiot. why do you think he puts people in their place, so he can control them, the sffd and sfpd have nobody who has the backbone to stand up to him.. mere puppets.. clear the house starting with the mayor, who sees it ok to sleep with his buddy's wife, drinks and who knows whatelse.. HYPOCRITE

[Paul]

Good job ABC7!!! Keep it coming. The mayor and chief of police service the public and the public deserves to know. They shouldn't hide behind the gag order.

[Chaos]

So long as the people of this city vote for him, Gavy will continue his reign of terror on this poor, blinded town. An attempt to "gag" is only to conceal. If there were nothing to conceal then why continue to increase the enormous tax bill for the City Attorney's Office? Remind me again...this was due to a silly comedy video...nearly 2 years ago?

Gag me!

[Coca]

The Gavinator made history -- the only mayor in history who has his own General Counsel -- in addition to the City Attorney. Sounds right since the Gavinator has no respect for the law and government. He needs a whole army of lawyers to protect his behind, compliments of the San Francisco tax payers.

[birddevil]

Keeps getting better and better. SF has a Ken doll for a mayor, sleeps with his best friend's wife....and she gets fired ? That fool is immune ? Fraid not. In civil cases no one is immune. Sounds like the esteemed Super Court judge who ruled on the matter is part of the same club thats been running and ruining the City for the last 4 decades. When SF dumped that despicable racist crook Willie Brown (hated white people, didnt keep him from sleeping with one)I thought there was hope. Now we have another incompetent liar.

SF public safety and administration has became the biggest joke in urban America. Problem is, they have gotten used to running wild with everyone's lives and rights. They justify it with politically correct platitudes and stylishly liberal double talk. Theyve been getting away with it for so long they think they are gods