44 Oakland cops face discipline for Occupy misconduct

USATODAY

Oakland's police chief wants to fire two officers and discipline 42 others for misconduct during Occupy protests, including seriously injuring an Iraq War veteran with a bean-bag projectile.

Chief Howard Jordan's recommendations came today as the city released a summary of internal police investigations stemming from complaints filed after major protests, the Oakland Tribune reports.

At a news conference, Jordan said the department had received 1,127 complaints about officer conduct at three big Occupy Oakland demonstrations -- Oct. 25, the Nov. 2 "General Strike" that shut down the port and on Jan. 28 -- where police clashed with demonstrators, CBS San Francisco notes. A review concluded that "the vast majority of my officers did what we asked them to do," he said, adding, "A few acted improperly and I've taken action to hold them accountable."

Jordan also acknowledged that one of his officers fired a bean-bag charge into the head of Iraq veteran Scott Olsen and that another officer fired a gas canister at demonstrators as some aided the bleeding Olsen.

The recommendations include 23 written reprimands, but Jordan also wants to fire two officers, demote another, suspend 15 officers for up to 30 days and send three to training, CBS SF says. City officials would not identify the officers, citing confidentiality laws.

Because officers can appeal the proposed punishments, none have taken effect.

"It's a reflection of how we want to improve how we treat people," Jordan said. "I have an obligation to hold them accountable."

Mayor Jean Quan, who appeared with Jordan, said she believes that many will be "surprised" by the number of disciplinary recommendations.

"Following the Oct. 25 protest, I apologized because we had made mistakes," she said. "We have some officers who have not followed correct procedures and in many cases we had to retrain them on that. Most officers follow the rules."