Justin_stacy
04/15/04, 02:00 AM
Union: Punishment due
Cops call for death penalty.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/041304n_espinoza2
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The San Francisco Police Officers Association will ask District Attorney Kamala Harris for a death penalty conviction for the killer of police Officer Isaac Espinoza, who was gunned down Saturday night in the gang-riddled Bayview District.
Espinoza, who spent much of his eight-year career immersed in some of the grittiest, most dangerous parts of the San Bayview neighborhood, only recently joined the POA's board to fight for better conditions for cops because he said officers, such as himself, were "isolated on an island" while working some of the toughest neighborhoods, said POA President Gary Delagnes.
Harris, who was elected into office in November, campaigned on an anti-death penalty platform. Harris' spokesperson Debbie Mesloh said the DA has ruled out seeking a death penalty conviction.
"The shooting of a police officer protecting his community is one of the most horrendous crimes," Mesloh said. "DA Harris will look for every enhancement and opportunity to ensure the individual or individuals responsible for the death of Officer Espinoza is met with the most severest of consequences. DA Harris has promised the people of San Francisco that she would never charge the death penalty. She was consistent about this issue during the campaign and was elected with that philosophy. Harris will stand by that commitment."
Delagnes said the POA would call for talks on the issue. A death penalty conviction, police officers say, is a crucial part to showing support for those working to protect the crime-ridden neighborhoods.
"We would like to certainly send a message to the public that if you kill a police officer, you will be sentenced to death," Delagnes said. "These cops come to work, they work in a very difficult area riddled with weapons, drugs and gang activity," he said.
Espinoza joined the board a couple of months ago specifically to represent the interests of cops out in the Potrero district, Delagnes said.
"It's a thankless job and he wanted to get involved and get the other officers a fair shake," Delagnes said. "If you expect these young kids to go out and do these jobs and stay in a district such as this, you'd sure as hell better give them support."
Despite tough economic times, San Francisco must find the money to put more officers in stations and have undercover gang suppression officers working in teams of four, not two, as was the case with Espinoza and Parker, Delagnes said.
Harris' reshuffle of the DA office last week has been scrutinized by police officers who point to the reduction of the number of gang prosecutors from four to three, making it harder, they say, to bring cases against career criminals.
Cops also said they do not have the resources to root out large caches of assault weapons that are penetrating the Bayview neighborhood.
"We recently heard about a large stash that had come in, but we just don't have the time or resources to go and look for it," one officer said.
On March 11 and 12, a pair of men stormed the Potrero Hill neighborhood armed with AK-47s. The following day, residents enjoying a peacekeeping community barbecue were interrupted when two men opened fire with M-16s.
Cops call for death penalty.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/041304n_espinoza2
Printer-friendly version | E-mail this story
The San Francisco Police Officers Association will ask District Attorney Kamala Harris for a death penalty conviction for the killer of police Officer Isaac Espinoza, who was gunned down Saturday night in the gang-riddled Bayview District.
Espinoza, who spent much of his eight-year career immersed in some of the grittiest, most dangerous parts of the San Bayview neighborhood, only recently joined the POA's board to fight for better conditions for cops because he said officers, such as himself, were "isolated on an island" while working some of the toughest neighborhoods, said POA President Gary Delagnes.
Harris, who was elected into office in November, campaigned on an anti-death penalty platform. Harris' spokesperson Debbie Mesloh said the DA has ruled out seeking a death penalty conviction.
"The shooting of a police officer protecting his community is one of the most horrendous crimes," Mesloh said. "DA Harris will look for every enhancement and opportunity to ensure the individual or individuals responsible for the death of Officer Espinoza is met with the most severest of consequences. DA Harris has promised the people of San Francisco that she would never charge the death penalty. She was consistent about this issue during the campaign and was elected with that philosophy. Harris will stand by that commitment."
Delagnes said the POA would call for talks on the issue. A death penalty conviction, police officers say, is a crucial part to showing support for those working to protect the crime-ridden neighborhoods.
"We would like to certainly send a message to the public that if you kill a police officer, you will be sentenced to death," Delagnes said. "These cops come to work, they work in a very difficult area riddled with weapons, drugs and gang activity," he said.
Espinoza joined the board a couple of months ago specifically to represent the interests of cops out in the Potrero district, Delagnes said.
"It's a thankless job and he wanted to get involved and get the other officers a fair shake," Delagnes said. "If you expect these young kids to go out and do these jobs and stay in a district such as this, you'd sure as hell better give them support."
Despite tough economic times, San Francisco must find the money to put more officers in stations and have undercover gang suppression officers working in teams of four, not two, as was the case with Espinoza and Parker, Delagnes said.
Harris' reshuffle of the DA office last week has been scrutinized by police officers who point to the reduction of the number of gang prosecutors from four to three, making it harder, they say, to bring cases against career criminals.
Cops also said they do not have the resources to root out large caches of assault weapons that are penetrating the Bayview neighborhood.
"We recently heard about a large stash that had come in, but we just don't have the time or resources to go and look for it," one officer said.
On March 11 and 12, a pair of men stormed the Potrero Hill neighborhood armed with AK-47s. The following day, residents enjoying a peacekeeping community barbecue were interrupted when two men opened fire with M-16s.