Thursday, April 15, 2021
News + Politics A Fox to guard the henhouse? Cop who shot...
News + Politics

A Fox to guard the henhouse? Cop who shot Luis Gongora now part of police reform unit

Community leaders say putting an officer still under investigation for a homicide in a reform group is an insult

By Sana Saleem

-

A protestor holds a photo of Luis Gongora during the town hall meeting with Police Chief Greg Suhr. Photo by Sana Saleem.

 

Photograph shows bullet wound to the head, as a straw is used to demonstrate the downward trajectory of the bullet. Photo by Sana Saleem.
Photograph shows bullet wound to the head, as a straw is used to demonstrate the downward trajectory of the bullet. Photo by Sana Saleem.

UPDATE: At the Police Commission meeting at City Hall SFPD Chief Toney Chaplain said Sgt Nate Steger voluntarily transferred from the Professional Standards and Principled Policing Bureau.

Sgt. Nate Steger, who fatally shot 45-year old Luis Gongora, is now a member of the unit tasked with reforms aimed at preventing officer involved shootings. Let that sink in: A police officer who is currently under investigation for shooting a man on the streets of San Francisco is now part of a unit that is working on solving the very problem, the Examiner reports. That’s right, the fox will guard the henhouse.

The Professional Standards and Principled Policing Bureau was formed in January by then police Chief Greg Suhr to focus on leading reform efforts in the aftermath of the police killing of Mario Woods in December 2015. The Bureau’s was first headed by the current Interim Police Chief Toney Chaplin who has since reaffirmed his faith in Suhr’s reform efforts.

Gongora was unhoused at the time of his shooting and living at an encampment on Shotwell. Last month, Gongora’s family attorneys from the John L. Burris Law Firm announced the filing of a intentional wrongful death lawsuit against the SFPD. Gongora was shot five times, of the bullet wounds, there is only one lethal wound, a gunshot to the left temple. The other wounds are to arms and shoulder and a graze wound to the abdomen.

Protestor holds a sign that says "Jail killer cops." Photo by Sana Saleem
Protestor holds a sign that says “Jail killer cops.” Photo by Sana Saleem

SFPD officers’ statement alleges that Gongora lunged at them with a knife and refused to put the knife down when asked. But according to autopsy report shared by Burris the lethal bullet wound to Gongora’s head reveals a steep downward trajectory. At least eight witnesses allege that the incident unfolded quickly, and a video of the shooting reveals that the incident took place under 30 seconds. The shooting is currently under investigation.

The news is a crushing blow for community members who have long criticized efforts for police reforms, and for Gongora’s family and supporters the appointment of Sgt. Steger is a cruel mockery of their grief.

Gongora’s cousin Luis Poot Pat said he thinks the police department should have done exactly the opposite. “Steger should be fired and barred from ever serving on a police force,” he said. Author and activist Adriana Camarena isn’t mincing her words either: “Steger’s assignment to the bureau is a slap in the face to the family of Luis Góngora Pat and our community; an act of contempt towards all of us who are fighting for justice for Luis’s death at the hands of Steger and Mellone, and the many other lives stolen by SFPD. ”

Jose Gongora Pat, brother of Luis Gongora speaks to the board of supervisors in support of Sup. Avalos's proposal. Photo by Sana Saleem.
Jose Gongora Pat, brother of Luis Gongora speaks to the board of supervisors in support of Sup. Avalos’s proposal. Photo by Sana Saleem.

Speaking in his native tongue Mayan at the city budget meeting a few weeks ago, José Gongora Pat, the brother of Luis Gongora expressed his support of Sup. John Avalos’s proposal to hold SFPD budget in reserve until reform happens. “The police are supposed to help, assist and prevent killing people but instead what we see is that they go around the streets killing people,” Pat said, as supporters of the family gathered around him.
Sgt. Steger is a member of the police reform group Blue Courage and so is Jack Hart, the spokesperson for the Bureau. In May, Mayor Ed Lee announced $17.5 million dollars in funding for comprehensive police reform and violence prevention. About $4.4 million of the reform package is going to the to the San Francisco Police Department for training, equipment and other needs. These trainings include focus on implicit bias, cultural competency, and crisis intervention and flaunts Blue Courage as one of the key training programs suggesting that “It will offer a series of courses designed to cultivate an internal cultural change within the department by emphasizing the trust and honor of law enforcement officers.”
It’s not clear whether Sgt. Steger is a consultant for Blue Courage or not. He was unavailable to comment.
Sgt. Steger is one of the four officers who are specifically focusing on police reforms, “It’s a clear sign that the SFPD has reached rock bottom, when it’s leadership cannot even see how vile it is to entrust someone who is still under investigation by SFPD, the D.A, and the OCC for a recent homicide with reforming police use of force. This is a deliberate attack and lack of respect for our black and brown communities in San Francisco. SFPD has an innate ability to burn bridges down with the community they pretend to be serving,” Camarena said.
Previous articleCop who shot Jessica Williams had earlier complaint
Next articleParty Radar: Movements and movings on …
Sana Saleem
Sana Saleem is a writer with a focus on social justice and human stories. She's member board of advisory for the Courage Foundation, Edward Snowden's legal defense fund.

43 COMMENTS

  39. <<o. ✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤:::::::!be840p:….,..

  40. <<o. ✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤:::::::!be317p:….,…

  41. <<o. ✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤:::::::!be130p:….,….

  42. It would actually be very smart to have Steger on the reform team,since he has first hand experience of the problem.

    In 1987 baseball executive Al Campanis made blatantly racist comments on the TV show Nightline, indicating a deep seated bias issue within baseball’s executive ranks.

    As a response baseball hired a Black activist and sociology professor named Harry Edwards to address the problem.

    The first thing that Edwards did was ask Campanis to join his staff to help define the nature of the bias involved.

    Amazing what you can do when your goal is to create solutions rather than an “us vs them” dynamic. Dr. Edwards was actually helpful.

Comments are closed.

More by this author

News + Politics

Garcia Zarate gets time served — but won’t go free

Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, the undocumented homeless man whose trial became a national issue, was sentenced to three years in prison on Friday in the death...
Sana Saleem -
News + Politics

Firearms expert says Steinle killing fits pattern of an accident

The bullet that killed Kate Steinle fit the pattern of an accidental discharge, a firearms expert testified today in the murder trial of Jose Ines Garcia...
Sana Saleem -
News + Politics

Zarate looked confused, disoriented during police interrogation

It was confusing, often contradictory, as the jurors today heard the interrogation of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, an undocumented homeless man accused of killing...
Sana Saleem -
News + Politics

The Steinle crime scene: The gun, the shirt ….

San Francisco police Officer Scott Hurley is trained to discover evidence or explosives suspected to be underwater. But on July 2nd, as he felt through...
Sana Saleem -
News + Politics

Zarate: Intentional killer — or confused and mentally ill?

The prosecution in the trial of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate tried to set the stage for the day Kate Steinle was killed, presenting witnesses...
Sana Saleem -

Most read

Housing

Breed won’t promise to spend real-estate tax money on rent relief

The voters approved Prop. I last fall to support tenants and affordable housing, but the mayor says she will use the money for her own priorities.
Tim Redmond -
Transportation

There’s a lot more to the GG Park debate than cars v. bikes

This is part of a huge discussion the city needs to have about transportation -- and equity -- in a post-COVID world.
Tim Redmond -
Education

City College students fight back against brutal faculty cuts

Firing teachers could also mean the end of a lot of treasured programs.
Garrett Leahy -
Food & Drink

Good Taste: Surviving the Great Boba Shortage, battle of the breakfast sandwiches…

Plus: SF Restaurant Week deals, Hawaiian Punch Pizza at Little Original Joe’s and La Cocina Marketplace finally opens!
Tamara Palmer -

You might also likeRELATED

Labor

Radical right group is trying to attack public-sector labor in SF

Anti-union mailers are going to workers home addresses -- but really, this group is looking pretty desperate.
Tim Redmond -
Read more
Housing

Breed won’t promise to spend real-estate tax money on rent relief

The voters approved Prop. I last fall to support tenants and affordable housing, but the mayor says she will use the money for her own priorities.
Tim Redmond -
Read more
News + Politics

OPINION: Donald Trump, Sid Vicious, click-bait, and media imagination

Sometimes you need a president -- and a bass player -- who actually knows how to do the job, even if he doesn't make as good copy.
Johnny Angel Wendell -
Read more
Education

City College students fight back against brutal faculty cuts

Firing teachers could also mean the end of a lot of treasured programs.
Garrett Leahy -
Read more

News

Business + TechCampaign TrailCOVIDEducationForeign CorrespondentHomelessnessHousing

Politics

Campaign TrailCity HallElectionsOpinionThe Agenda

Arts

ArtArts ForecastDanceLitMoviesMusicPerformanceScreen Grabs

Culture

CultureExamined LifeNightlifeParty RadarPuff

Special Sections

Best of the Bay
Bay Guardian Archives
Shop
Cart

Connect

Become a Member
Newsletter
Advertise
Privacy Policy
Contact

48 Hills logo

48hills.org is the official publication of the non-profit San Francisco Progressive Media Center.

We are community supported journalism. Become a member.