Two years after his involvement in a police shooting that took the life of a 20-year-old African American man, an Oakland School Police Department officer has come forward as a “whistleblower” in sworn testimony, making allegations of unethical behavior within a department that is already under the scrutiny of federal investigators.Read more »

What sets San Francisco apart from Los Angeles? When it comes to city agencies that are supposed to keep politicians, lobbyists and campaign financiers honest, there are evidently some key differences.

Last year, San Francisco’s Budget & Legislative Analyst, Harvey Rose, drafted a report at the behest of Sup. David Campos comparing the San Francisco Ethics Commission to that of LA. It was meant as a precursor for moving forward with a package of tougher Ethics regulations governing areas like campaign finance, but so far little has happened on that front.Read more »

During what one official called the “show-and-tell” portion of a public hearing held yesterday by a committee of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, a representative from the Sheriff’s Office held up a drone so the crowd of 100 or so attendees could have a look. The small, lightweight device consisted of a plastic box to house technical equipment, a camera, and four spidery legs affixed with tiny black propellers.Read more »

To enter San Francisco County Jail No. 2 yesterday, I first had to gain clearance from a uniformed guard positioned behind a pane of glass, with an array of surveillance monitoring screens looming beside him. After being buzzed through a heavy metal door and being escorted two floors up by a different guard, I was struck by the contrast between the featureless institutional environment and the vivacious inmate I soon encountered.Read more »

Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg plans to host a fundraiser for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at his Palo Alto home tomorrow, and Democracy for America has started a petition calling upon the young billionaire to "unfriend" Christie, on account of his opposition to same sex marriage. Read more »

Tonight, Feb. 11, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) will hold its third and final informational meeting about a pilot program that could equip officers with stun guns. While Tasers have been a focus of discussions, the SFPD also sent the San Francisco Police Commission a list of other "nonlethal" weapon systems it’s considered, and we got a copy of it this afternoon. Here’s a rundown of the alternatives the cops have contemplated. Read more »