OK, I like the Mayor, but I call bullshit and this should be followed up on. Why did it take until TODAY for the Mayor to condemn this in public, AFTER the Stranger published the Guardian information, when it was claimed in the comments that a copy of the Guardian is given monthly to both the Mayor's office and the City Council members?

Do they receive a copy? And if so, can they -- Pickus, McGinn, someone on the Council staffs -- please explain why this wasn't condemned until it's nasty details were spilled across the public's face?

He needs to bust some balls. Don't be another soft liberal... too late?

“We are employing those people," McGinn adds. "And it’s one thing to question whether training on race and social justice is done well, but it is not okay to say that people who train on race and so justice are 'the enemy.'”

And: so what are you going to DO about this problem, Mr. Mayor?

I thought it was City Council that determined the contract with the Guild and the subsequent lack of civilian oversight?

Fire racist culprits or face lawsuits. Expensive lawsuits.

Never should've hired Diaz. I suspect the union urged the leading outside contender to drop out.

What exactly are the "social justice" groups, really? I didn't hear a peep out of them when the 7 young guys who stomped the elderly Tuba man to death got a few MONTHS in jail, I have not heard ONE word from them about the rash of unprovoked attacks on metro (most caught on security tape) of our most vulnerable citizens- a pregnant woman, a deaf woman, an elderly disabled man, a child. I do not think these "social justice" groups look out for most of the people who need it most. Whatever their agenda, they seem indifferent to an enormous amount of social injustice that goes on. I wonder why?

I think Vince @5 brings it home, here.

McGinn's heart is in the right place. It's just that he doesn't have the executive skills to do anything about the problem. It's outside of his field.

McGinn's right, it's about a 'broader cultural issue' within the SPD, but yeah, the $64,000 question is What Does He Intend To DO About It?? Inquiring minds want, and deserve, to know........

And I agree, Diaz was just the wrong choice. Talk about perpetuating yr institutional culture....

Diaz knows this crap gets printed and doesn't do or say a thing. He should be fired. This sort of racial hate speech should not be tolerated. Period. No excuses. Fire these people.

Start with Sgt. Rich O'Neil who is the leader of the right wing of the Police. He's been a problem for decades. He compares "left leaning" politicians to criminals and thinks non-cops shouldn't comment on police shootings.

Mayor McGinn - the Police issue will define you. And when Burgess runs against you as a pro-police politician, taking no stand on anything the cops do wrong because he is one, you have a winning issue. IF you act. So far your non-action is frightening and shows a complete lack of leadership.

@7- I didn't know the city employed Tuba Man's killers or any other random criminals.

@9, yeah but he rode a bike gosh darn it!! That's why we voted for him, that and Joe "whatever his name was" simply was lame.

Across the population of American citizens, there exists a spectrum of political views; this is a fact, and not debatable.

Some cops are right winged. Some cops are left winged. Most cops, I imagine, are like most people and couldn't give a flying fuck either way.

I look at this publication and it reminds me of all the little high school and college newspapers. It's written by a small group of people and read by an almost just as small group of people. I'd be shocked if 20% of cops actually read this rag. People are making a mountain out of a molehill. Stupid people - racists, homophobes, sexists, what have you - exist within any given population. Police are no different.

Guys, McGinn's hands, and Diaz' hands as well, are tied by the first amendment here. If he fires or disciplines an officer for mere speech, that officer's got a couple of good, strong legal claims under the heading of freedom of speech and right to due process.

The real scary thing is that it's not really McGinn--I think the SPD would revolt against any mayor who tried to impose outside discipline. I don't think they view themselves as accountable to anyone. I think that's why what we really need is a federal investigation with the power to remake the department if the apparent systemic problems at the SPD are confirmed by their investigation.

@15 employees are routinely fired for causing public harm or exposure to their employers. It's in the news all the time. The real question is: does this rise to that level?

I would add, that I personally don't think so, but when you get into areas of police officers discussing in public all but open dissent of city polices and regulations, you've opened a pretty big chasm of theoretical worms that might be against a range of police or city regulations in and of itself.

Um, when you publicly advocate calling people the n-word and bitches on the job, I'm pretty sure that counts as a fireable offense for any job in the country. Let alone if you're caught on camera actually doing it.

@11 wow yeah O'Neil does seem a bit off.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/cspa…

I fucking hate it when politicians and pundits always talk about actions that "send messages," everything is always about some bullshit "message" that something sends.

But this is exactly one of those times where McGinn needs to fire Diaz, shake up the leadership, and send a fucking message to these guys.

Let us not forget that police are public servants, sworn to justice. If someone is not willing to serve and protect our community, instead of divide and conquer fractured communities in a discriminatory and hateful fashion, you FIRE their ass and let them go join the WSP or the Sheriff's office and go take out their anger issues in the boonies.

I don't want this militarist bullshit in my city.

I can speak from experience: firing their boss will in no way "send a message" to any asshole cops. Asshole cops will continue to be asshole cops regardless of leadership, because they are assholes, and assholes do not ever stop being assholes. You can't stop cops from being assholes, but you can stop assholes from being cops.

"You can't stop cops from being assholes"

Not unless it's Judge Reinhold.