SFPD officer Jesse Serna seems to embody the meaning of the word “gangsterâ€. Do you recall The Chronicle’s series on the SFPD’s use of force? Well, this officer was identified as reportedly using more force than any other officer in the 1996-2004 period! And his stepfather is Commander Stephen Tacchini, one of the department’s highest ranking officers. Doesn’t this sound a bit like the mafia perhaps? Just substitute the Sopranos for the SFPD and we got a reality TV hit here folks.
Except this is no TV drama. This is real life.
There are new episodes involving this officer, which were highlighted by The Chronicle just last week. They occurred between August 20, 2006 and May 12, 2007. What is really going on here? Why hasn’t he been fired? Arrested? Charged? Prosecuted? Oh, that’s right, my bad! He’s one of San Francisco’s finest. These officers have the right to attack, abuse, and violate people’s rights because… well, just because.
Sound a little harsh? Well, how do you think his victims felt when they found themselves being zapped with a stun gun? Or beat with a baton? Or attacked by his vicious words?
And to bring a little bit more reality to this situation, at this present time, due to the nonsensical ruling of the California Supreme Court in the Copley case, had The Chronicle not previously published this officer’s name, we would not have the right to know this man’s name! We would not have the right to know just what type of person is patrolling the streets of San Francisco.
This is yet another reason to support Senator Gloria Romero’s legislature (SB 1019) that is focused on ensuring that police disciplinary hearings are open to the public. That we as a community have a right to transparency when it comes to police officers who have had warranted disciplinary action taken against them.
As I have always said, we have the right to know what types of people are patrolling our streets. IF we have the right to know the names of lawyers who have been disbarred, and doctors who have lost their licence to practice medicine, then we have the right to know the names of officers who have chosen to use excessive force for no justified reason, except their own ignorant bias and prejudice.
These men and women have taken an oath to protect and to serve, and we as the community have the right to hold them accountable for their unjustified actions and the law should as well.
4 Comments
Thank you for this article/information. Here in Fresno some of us (an increasingly vocal and growing group) have been calling for an independent police auditor for years and years, amidst incredible stories (and stories and stories) of police abuse, brutality, and misconduct. I had my own experience a couple years ago trying to file a complaint-which was ignored and finally “lost”-they actually denied ever receiving it, even though I had sent it certified mail and had the signed copy verifying it had been recieved.
Boo to Ca Supreme Court.
It’s unfair how these kids are being treated.oh and I GOT LUV 4 JADAYON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope that they shut the CYA because kids are being very mistreated. This is not good 4 these kids who there. Let them go home and stay there. this is not acceptable to these kids lives. 4 all CYA workers you should be ashamed for yourslef. PLEASE! LET THEM GO HOME! We should also shut it down before more teens die in there. It isn’t good for the soul. HELP THEM DOWN. DONATE MONEY TO HEALTH PROBLEMS!
Hello.
Do you think you could qualify or substantiate any of your words with dates, witness statements, actual events? There is much rhetoric in your post but no substance. I am not defending this officer or his record, but your writing is nothing more than an irrational rant, without a fact pattern to allow an unbiased reader to form their own opinion. Unless of course that is the point…