tiburon police officer fired

The people in the store included co-owners Yema Khalif and Hawai Awash, the only Black store owners in town. Khalif becomes increasingly frustrated as Blasis requirement shifts: Did you identify yourself? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. said Yema Khalif in a video his friend took. It looked like they were harassing him and I thought, This has gone on for several minutes. It just felt like it was going to progress into something ugly., Khalif called the fact that the situation was diffused by a white neighbor yelling down to vouch for him the icing on the cake., A Black man cannot be in this space in this particular hour and say, Im OK, no need to be talking to you, move along. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Khalif said he was racially profiled in February while searching for business license documents in his car in the Town Hall parking lot. Khalif didn't answer the question, saying what people didn't see in the body cam video are the officers who had circled the business multiple times beforehand and had been watching them. During hours when the department is closed, visitors can be directly connected to our dispatch center via a phone outside our front entrance. Belvedere City Manager Craig Middleton said one of the officers who was acting in a backup role is employed with Belvedere Police Department. I think the town owes the police an apology, Joyce Wells said. Michael Blasi, becoming more frustrated and confrontational with Khalif, who also appears exasperated with the interaction, as the minutes go by. 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. After the panel interviews, I met with each finalist for approximately 45 minutes to an hour, and then each finalist had the opportunity to tour the police station.. "How can we do better as a community? Is it your store? 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. The situation started getting out of hand so our friend from DC started recording the exchange (Video below). According to Khalif, the officer sat in his parked vehicle for about 20 minutes before approaching Khalif, asking him to identify himself, explain why they were inside the store, and informing them that backup was on the way. The two engage, mostly in circles, for the next minute as Madfes repeatedly asks why the three are there so late, and Khalif, at times visibly showing frustration, repeatedly asks why it matters if theres no problem. This isn't regular business hours, there's no customers in there. In a later interview, Simpson said he was concerned by the way the three officers were surrounding Khalif. "We're trying to build a brand with a big heart," said Khalif. I do not have any intention of removing them at this time, Cronin said. Ryan Monaghan, who has worked at the San. Cronin faced backlash in June following a press release that warned residents of Sausalito and Tiburon that they might be targets of unrest caused by a Marin City demonstration in protest of the murder of George Floyd, which remained peaceful. Michael Blasi was the supervising officer on Aug.. He did not comment on whether officers will face disciplinary actions pending the outcome of the investigation. In 1999 the department moved into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd. Maegan Hall, the female officer at the center of the scandal, has been fired, city officials said. Khalif and Awash said Chanis, the town manager, reached out to them after the incident, and the three met on Aug. 23. A Tiburon police spokesperson tells ABC7 News the town has hired an outside, independent attorney to conduct an investigation. She said that included conversations about how police officers can re-examine their implicit biases and eliminate their own fear on the job. The newly-released bodycam video can be seen here. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Blasi] believes it would be difficult to continue being effective as a police officer in Tiburon. Sgt. The finalists were interviewed in person at Town Hall on Jan. 26 by Scardina, Public Works Director Steve Palmer, Community Development Director Dina Tasini and Administrative Services Director Suzanne Creekmore. Police Chief Michael Cronin declined to directly comment on the Aug. 21 incident until the investigation has concluded, but he confirmed Blasi and the other officers involved would continue coming to work through the investigation. 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. 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. I cannot fathom how that could happen. Michael Blasi resigned after the release of police body-cam video showed Blasi and other officers questioning whether Yema Khalif and his wife Hawi Awash had a right to be in their own downtown store after hours. Khalif posted the video to Instagram. Simpson, who is familiar with Khalif, said he was concerned by the way the three officers were surrounding him, so he yelled down to confirm Khalif was the owner. How can policing be done with empathy," said Khalif. "We are extraordinarily sad to report the loss. Although Ryan Monaghan was not my choice, Im looking forward to working with him to find out what his plans are for community policing, diversity and inclusion, and hiring and promotion within the department, he said. 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.. It first operated from 80 Main Street before moving in the late 70's into surplus military housing near its present site. Put your key in the door and were out of here. Awash said she was shaking while recording the incident at the store because of the prior negative encounters with Tiburon police. At the conclusion of the investigation the report will be provided to the Town Manager for review and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigator, Cronin said. In it, you can hear officers questioning Khalif multiple times: "Do one of you own the store?". On August 21, a recording of three officers, including Blasi, went viral on Instagram where they can be heard questioning Yema Khalif, the owner of YEMA, which is the only Black-owned clothing store in Tiburon. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Were here because we love Tiburon, and we know that Tiburon loves us back, Awash said. Blasi has responded to numerous law enforcement-related questions on Quora, a question-and-answer website, over the last few years. Assistant Editor Emily Lavin contributed to this report. In the post. Doesnt the business owner have some responsibility for not complying, which also couldve de-escalated the situation? asked Reedlands resident Elizabeth Shapiro on Nextdoor. Our store alarm did not go off, no one called the police, everything was peaceful. He went through the normal background check, Cronin said. 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 . It was fear. In one response, Blasi explained that police are not able to detain a person without a lawful, articulable reason and compel them to identify themselves. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. It was a nearby business owner who yelled to officers that Khalif owned the business, which diffused the situation. In an interview Aug. 24, Fredericks called the officers behavior unacceptable, and said the Police Department is in the process of hiring an attorney to conduct an independent investigation into the incident. Even after the supervisor walked away, the officer who first approached the store said, "Can you put the key in the door please?". While K-9 officer Larry Holladay, Patrol Officer Patrick. After Floyds death and ahead of a peaceful June 2 protest in Marin City, Cronin sparked outrage among the community after he issued a statement warning residents to be wary should the demonstration become violent or lead to looting on the Tiburon Peninsula neither of which happened. Comment at the meeting, or in advance by emailing comments@townoftiburon.org. Tiburon Mayor Alice Fredericks called their behavior unacceptable and issued a public apology, and she and Belvederes mayor each apologized personally to Khalif and Awash. Thank you, see ya, Blasi says as he turns and walks away toward Fountain Plaza. In the video, Khalif can be seen wearing a protective mask and engaging with the initially maskless police supervisor, identified as Michael Blasi, who repeatedly asked Khalif to prove his identity as the owner of the store. Can you prove that its your store?, Khalif: I do not have to prove anything to you, its my store., Blasi: Oh my god, yes you do have to prove who you are., Khalif: I do not have to prove my existence to you.. Blasi offered, and the town has accepted, his voluntary resignation.. If I tell you its my store, then what? Khalif responded. Town Manager Greg Chanis said he chose the date to " coincide with his military anniversary in 1966.". Thank you sir, thats all I needed to know. Required fields are marked *. To the right in the video, a mannequin frequently is in view, just feet from Khalif, who has approached the door dressed in identical clothing distinctive, African-inspired athletic-leisurewear. Cause you dont sound like youre very grateful. One of our business friend was visiting us from washing DC so he came with us. Tiburon police officers are trained and held to the highest standards of conduct. It is clear that did not occur in this instance.. The police denied a racial motive and said they were doing their jobs. Khalif refused. A Change.org petition, signed by nearly 500 people by The Arks press deadline, called for the immediate suspension of Blasi and an investigation into the officers involved. I was not specifically aware of that event.. 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