SFPD brass refuses to speak to SF IndyMedia. Why?

The SFPD had been dragging their feet on issuing us additional press passes for our new personnel. Within minutes of their receiving our fax, we were informed by our point person on the project that the SFPD had changed their minds and were issuing us the additional press passes we had requested. Coincidence? Perhaps.

At least it was progress. But what about our questions for Assistant Chief Fagan? We have waited patiently for a reply to our request. We had hoped that, if Alex Fagan wasn’t willing to be interviewed that he would at least have the common decency to notify us. But alas.

We had also assumed that he would be relieved to have the press, for a change, show some interest in an aspect of his life than his comp time and his hoodlum son. Apparently, we were wrong about that, too.

So our questions go unanswered.

If you would like to fax them your opinion on this matter, the number is:

415-553-9229

Here is the fax we sent them:

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COVER SHEET:

From: SF IndyMedia Center

Re: Interview request/list of questions

It appears that Assistant Chief Fagan is now in charge. So SF Indymedia withdraws it’s request to interview Heather Fong. Instead, we request an on camera interview with Assistant Chief Fagan. Here are the questions we intend to ask. Should Assistant Chief Fagan decline to be interviewed, that too is a story. We will feature it prominently on our front page, and include the unanswered questions.

We can be reached at:

415-864-1006

We are located at:

(snip)

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FAX:

Questions we intend to ask, should we be granted an interview:


(1.) When faced with high-spirited young people expressing
legitimate concerns about say, U.S. foreign policy, do the police, as well trained, well-armed professionals, wearing helmets and face masks, have a special responsibility to keep there cool, to defuse rather than inflame a civil disobedience or direct action situation?

(2.) Should the invasion of Iraq take place as planned, a wide variety of groups have vowed to “shut this city down,” using a wide variety tactics, some non-violent, some violent. What provisions have been made in police planning to deal with non violent civil disobedience and outright rioting differently?


(3.) It seems during a civil disobedience or direct action the police will at some point draw a line in the sand. What are the factors that go into making this decision? 

(4.) Who gives the order? 

(5.) Are you planning mass arrests like that fiasco on Market St, during the Rodney King disturbances?

(6.) Will violent and non violent demonstrators be locked up together?

(7.) Given how easy they spook, and the potential liability they represent to the City, shouldn't horses be kept away from civil disobedience?

(8.) Has the SFPD consulted with the City Attorney about the potential liability issues that would arise if an out of control horse injured an innocent bystander?

(9.) How many cops can you realistically task to crowd control without leaving our neighborhoods vulnerable to common criminals who may wish to take advantage of the situation?

(10.) How many reinforcements from police forces in the surrounding areas can you expect through your various mutual aid agreements?

(11.) Can you realistically expect mutual aid from the Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond, or, given the extreme likelihood of civil unrest taking place there, too, will they hesitant to leave their own responsibilities unprotected?

(12.) If protesters try to occupy the Bay Bridge, as they did during the First Gulf War, do you expect that the CHP can handle it on their own, or will they need your help?

(13.) If it develops that you need the CHP’s help to adequately control the situation on the surface streets, will they come down off the highway to help, even if it means leaving the Bridge and the approach ways too lightly guarded to be an effective deterrent if the mob, or mobs, get past you?

(14.) How far out of control will the situation have to get before the feds step in and take command?

(15.) If and when that happens, which feds will be in charge, the FBI, FEMA, Homeland Security or somebody else?

(16.) How far out of control does the situation have to get before the National Guard is called in, and who exactly will call them?

(17.) The National Guard is spread mighty thin right now. Their best and their brightest, and their best equipment is in Kuwait right now. So if you, or whoever, have to call in the Guard to maintain order, they might not be up to the task. That leaves regular Army and the Marines. What our readers would like to know, is at what point would regular Army and the Marines be called upon to restore order. Is there a predetermined trip wire scenario, or do you plan to play it by ear?

(18.) Does the SFPD augment its own surveillance of demonstrators with pictures and video that people have posted on SF IndyMedia?

(19.) Since the SFPD has issued us press passes, apparently it considers SF IndyMedia to be a legitimate news organization. We have recently asked for additional press passes for our new personnel. We have been refused. Why? What changed?

(20.) With which anti-war groups has the SFPD been negotiating rules of engagement, and what’s been agreed upon?

(21.) What, if any, effect has the shake up resulting from the current scandals had on your command structure’s ability to effectively coordinated crowd control?

(22.) Who will be the tactical field commander in charge of on crowd control on March 15?

(23.) Would whoever it is be adverse to SF IndyMedia assigning a reporter to accompany him and report on his activities?