Blasi offered, and the town has accepted, his voluntary resignation." How safe is your neighborhood? Yema's wife says the officer had his hand on his gun. A Tiburon police sergeant has resigned following a confrontation with a Black merchant that critics say stemmed from racial profiling. This incident should alarm every resident in Tiburon, wrote Wolf. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? While the interaction with the first officer at the scene, who has not been identified, was not recorded, Khalif said the officer walked up to the door and immediately demanded to know what they were doing in the store at night. Khalif replies, No, just doing our thing and asks if theres a problem. Still, other locals questioned Khalifs reaction to the police, and said he should have proved ownership when asked. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. @shaunking @beyonce @chakabars @lauraharrier @buzzfeed @nowthisnews @aljazeeraenglish @cnn @bbcnews @latimes @nytimes @wsj @ava @shondarhimes @kuz @kingjames @oprah @voguemagazine @essence @adutakech @tiffanyhaddish, A post shared by YEMA (@yemacalif) on Aug 21, 2020 at 3:33pm PDT. The Tiburon Police Department was established in 1972 following the towns incorporation by eight years. All the applicants expressed an understanding of the events that have transpired in Tiburon in the last eight months, Chanis said. DeSantis coming to CA as new poll shows him leading Trump, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody'. Cronin faced backlash in June following a press release that warned residents of Sausalito and Tiburon that they might be targets of unrest caused by a Marin City demonstration in protest of the murder of George Floyd, which remained peaceful. Tiburon officials have selected a San Mateo police lieutenant as the town's next police chief, filling a post that had been vacant for six months. Last night we had a not so good exchange with Tiburon police at our place of work. In 1999 the department moved into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Officers from both the Tiburon and Belvedere police departments arrived that August 2020 night around 1 a.m., when Khalif, Awash and a friend were stocking clothes at the upscale boutique on . In August 2020, Yema Khalif and his wife Hawi Awash both Black were in their store in Tiburon when white police officers approached them demanding that the couple show proof that they owned the store. The town has been conducting background and medical checks since then. ", The community meeting comes after the city released body cam video showing the back and forth between both sides. Even after the supervisor walked away, the officer who first approached the store said, "Can you put the key in the door please?". In a year marked by the killings of Black people at the hands of law enforcement, leading to protests nationwide calling for police reform, the conduct of the Tiburon officers is particularly tone . Khalif said he was racially profiled in February while searching for business license documents in his car in the Town Hall parking lot. Lewis Powell, Detective Seneca Shields and Sgt. The Police Department and Emergency Operations Center are also responsible for developing and maintaining the Emergency Operations Plan for the entire Tiburon Peninsula. About 5 minutes into the footage, Blasi arrives on the scene, though Khalif notes that a third officer has also arrived a Belvedere patrol officer who is off screen but can be seen through the window in the separate video taken from inside the store and posted by Khalif to social media. Then show me its your store, Blasi responds. "This street closes at 9 o'clock at night and there's never anybody in here. His tone not very like-able. Tiburons Hank Easom was locally renowned sailor, After earthquakes, Tiburon resident seeks aid for native Turkey, Six vying for interim seat on Tiburon Town Council, Former mayor and longtime volunteer named Belvedere Citizen of the Year, Study details threat of water from below in combatting sea rise, Residents sound off, urge action at Belvedere coyote forum, Angel Island ferry to be states first all-electric short-run ferry, Angel Island honored for effort to turn historic hospital into museum, 2022 The Ark, AMMI Publishing Co. Inc. | 1550 Tiburon Blvd. The couple was working late with a friend and business associate from Washington, D.C., Awash said, adding that its not uncommon for them to work late into the night setting up displays and doing inventory. However, he believes it would be difficult to continue being effective as a police officer in Tiburon.. In the video, Khalif is at the door of his own store talking with a Tiburon police supervisor. They opened the athletic apparel boutique in February. Khalif begins speaking over the officer when Awash appears to say, OK baby? but Khalif tells her No, no and again asks the officer if theres a problem. It was organized by Marin City Matters a social activist group created in response to police Chief Michael Cronins warning to residents on June 2 that Sausalito and Tiburon might be targets for unrest linked to a Marin City demonstration over the death of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis. Noah Griffin, a member of the towns Diversity Inclusion Task Force, said he was one of two African American members of the community panel that interviewed the finalists. Khalif said he, Awash and a friend were in the store doing inventory when he noticed a police vehicle circling the block. Maegan Hall, the female officer at the center of the scandal, has been fired, city officials said. And he wanted us to prove who we are. Fredericks said Cronin is planning a department-wide racial-bias training for late next month, which has been in the works since the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis in May, which led to widespread protests and mounting calls to end racial injustice and police brutality. Khalif acknowledged several times that I want you to look out for my store and I want you to look out for my community, but he repeatedly asked the officers what activity, beyond his presence alone, was suspicious and required explanation. Maybe this happened to us because we can bring this out and make sure we have these conversations in our homes and with our families and loved ones and members of community and create something positive thats going to make Tiburon better for all of us, she said. OK, thats fine. Yema Protest Speech following the incident at his storefront on August 29th. How can policing be done better? Two Black merchants who allege racial profiling by police in Tiburon and Belvedere are demanding $2 million from the municipalities. Khalif said when it became clear the officer wasnt understanding him, he asked the officer to call his supervisor. Khalif was also a speaker at the 2018 Belvedere-Tiburon Librarys Pop-Up 94920 series. Tiburon Town Manager Greg Chanis announced the resignation in a newsletter saying [Sgt. I do not have any intention of removing them at this time, Cronin said. After a few minutes, Blasi and another officer arrived, which is when the interaction starts being recorded. Community members pointed out Cronin had only issued a warning for the protest in Marin City, which is 61 percent non-white, including 38 percent Black, and had issued no such warnings for similar peaceful protests in other nearby predominantly white communities, including Mill Valley. The county settled a lawsuit by Grimes family for nearly $1 million. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? TIBURON, Calif. . Ste. The newly released footage begins about 6 minutes before that video begins, when Madfes is already parked on Tiburon Boulevard at Main Street and is getting out of his squad car. We saw him drive around the block like 3 times. It sounded like a fist-fight was going to happen, Simpson said. ", Khalif: "I do not have to show you nothing. Khalif said he was entitled to be in the store, had no obligation to identify himself and accused police of being suspicious because the store occupants were Black. Khalif and Awash said Cronin had not reached out to them directly in the aftermath of the incident. Ste. It first operated from 80 Main Street before moving in the late 70s into surplus military housing near its present site. Why would the police believe some white guy yelling from his balcony and not the Black business owner stating he owned the business? she wrote. Then he insisted that he wanted us to prove who we are and to explain what we were doing at the store that late. Blasi was hired last year by the department after more than 15 years at the Marin County Sheriffs Office as a SWAT team leader, investigator and gang task-force officer. Khalif refused. He previously worked at The San Francisco Chronicle as a Bay Area news editor and the Oakland Tribune as a senior news editor. "Had that white neighbor not said anything that night, maybe Yema wouldn't be here with us today and I would let that sink in for a minute," Hawi Awash told ABC 7 News. Once she found out about Blasis past, she said she felt lucky the situation did not end with violence. He went on to say that both he and Awash have been stopped numerous times by Tiburon police, both in their cars and walking down the street. Please enter valid email address to continue. As the town of Tiburon deals with a controversy involving the Police Department and a Black-owned business, Police Chief Michael Cronin announced on Tuesday that he will retire, according to the Marin Independent Journal. Wife of popular Wild 94.9 radio host JV says new information suggests he will not be coming back, Bay Area federal judge orders extradition of woman suspected of killing MSU student in hit-and-run, San Jose: Home raided as part of explosives and narcotics investigation. Just seconds later, the interaction ended abruptly when a neighbor who lives farther down Main Street yelled from his balcony to confirm Khalif was the owner. Monaghans collaborative approach and demonstrated commitment to creating meaningful community engagement really set him apart from other candidates, Chanis said. VIDEO: Man fired after blocking Latino man from entering his own apartment building in SF. I think right now everybody should get involved just because, whats going on in the country; the climate and everything. California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an independent investigation Wednesday into the Torrance Police Department after evidence emerged that officers were sharing racist and homophobic . "There's three Black people in the store, what's the problem?" The recording shows a Tiburon officer, identified as supervising Sgt. Ultimately, I sign off on every hire for the town, Chanis said. If you have a problem, you tell me . Mayor Alice Fredericks on Aug. 22 sent out an email to the community apologizing to Khalif and Awash. Blasi offered, and the town has accepted, his voluntary resignation., On the night of the alleged racial profiling incident, Khalif, his wife. It just felt like it was going to progress into something ugly., Khalif called the fact that the situation was diffused by a white neighbor yelling down to vouch for him the icing on the cake., A Black man cannot be in this space in this particular hour and say, Im OK, no need to be talking to you, move along. A Black man can not say that, but a white man can.. Doesnt the business owner have some responsibility for not complying, which also couldve de-escalated the situation? asked Reedlands resident Elizabeth Shapiro on Nextdoor. Blasi offered, and the town has accepted, his voluntary resignation.. Cronin declined to directly comment on the Aug. 21 incident until the investigation has concluded, but he confirmed Blasi and the other officers involved would continue coming to work through the investigation. A Tiburon police sergeant was found dead at the department's headquarters of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, the agency said Tuesday. Named among the state's & nation's best small weeklies, 2014, 2018-2021 California News Publishers Association &, Tiburon releases body-cam footage of police questioning Black merchant, About 6 minutes of cellphone footage of the encounter with the supervisor, Tiburon police Sgt. Nielsen met Khalif on a movie set and later helped him move to California, where he attended Dominican University of California in San Rafael, made the deans list all four years, was his class valedictorian in 2015 and was offered a full scholarship into its MBA program, where he eventually obtained his masters. Sept. 10, 2020 1:17 AM PT. A Black man can not say that, but a white man can.. The Aug. 21 incident is the second time in recent months the Tiburon Police Department has come under public scrutiny for its response to racial issues in the wake of the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd and ensuing Black Lives Matter protests across the country, including several in Tiburon. There's video of the interaction and an investigation underway. A video showing three Tiburon Peninsula police officers repeatedly questioning the identity of a Black business owner working in his Fountain Plaza clothing store about 1 a.m. Aug. 21 has sparked widespread outrage within the community and prompted town officials to order an independent investigation into the conduct of two of the officers. In 1999 the department moved into its current location at 1155 Tiburon Blvd. NBCBLK 5 officers fired after Tyre Nichols' death were 'directly responsible' for his 'physical abuse,' police chief says Other officers remain under investigation in connection with a. Do you want us to look out for the community or do you want us to let anybody walk in here at 2 oclock in the morning and steal all your stuff? Blasi is heard saying on the video. Your email address will not be published. Theyre the ones with the guns, theyre the ones with the badge, theyre the ones with the authority, she said. "My pictures are plastered all over the store, huge pictures," says Khalif. The lawyer will interview the people involved in the incident starting mid-September. "Since becoming Police Chief in 2007, the impact of Mikes leadership has been significant for Tiburon," Chanis said. In the incident, which was recorded on video, two Tiburon officers and a Belvedere officer pressed Yema Khalif and Hawai Awash to identify themselves after seeing them in their clothing shop at 1 a.m. Khalif claimed racial profiling, which the officers denied. Awash, however, said this is not the first negative interaction with Tiburon police; she said shes been stopped more than five times by another officer. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? As a community, we need to demand change in our public servants when it becomes clear their own unrecognized prejudices can no longer allow them to protect and serve all residents.. Nearly all the comments expressed outrage with Tiburon police with calls to hold the officers accountable. In response to public outcry, Blasi offered his resignation from the Tiburon Police department, which went into effect September 1. Monaghans starting annual salary is $195,000, which is 3% less than Cronins salary, Chanis said. Tiburon Town Manager Greg Chanis announced the resignation in a newsletter saying [Sgt. Marin resident Chelsea Ialeggio, who was raised in Tiburon, said she is disgusted by the incident. We are inside the store minding our business, All store lights are on and you can see us from outside because we have high windows all around the store. "We are extraordinarily sad to report the loss. Police Chief Michael Cronin said the town has engaged the services of an independent attorney to conduct an investigation into the incident. Theyre the ones with the guns, theyre the ones with the badge, theyre the ones with the authority, she said. Cronin declined to declined to identify the other two officers other than to say one works for Tiburon and the other for Belvedere. While Tiburon Police Chief Michael Cronin and Town Manager Greg Chanis have ordered an independent investigation into the incident, the results of which will be reviewed by the Town Council, Cronin said neither Blasi nor the two other officers involved would be suspended or put on administrative leave amid the investigation. Blasi will receive three months of salary from Tiburon as severance pay, Chanis said. Tiburon Town Council & Belvedere City Council Virtual Town Hall & Community Forum 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27. https://zoom.us/j/95644043303 or 669-900-6833, meeting ID 956 4404 3303. Offensive text messages exchanged between police officers in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, California, have hit the news and brought a spotlight on systemic discriminatory practices within the department.. Before Khalif was able to show the three officers that he had a working key to the store, an unnamed local can be heard from afar verifying that Khalif was the owner. Tiburon officials say an independent investigation is now underway, which is the reason why officers were not at Thursday's meeting. Maybe because I am a blonde caucasian there was no reason that they cared to check on why I was there or felt the need to make me get out my key to prove I belonged there.. It is clear that did not occur in this instance.. I do not have to show you nothing! replied Khalif. Town Manager Greg Chanis said the council will be holding a special online Town Hall meeting via Zoom later this week to give residents and the public an opportunity to talk about the incident. That seemed to satisfy the officers, and they promptly left without the proof they had demanded for roughly 10 minutes. When we hire police, the police chief makes a recommendation, but the town manager approves every hire.. September 8, 2020 / 7:45 PM Tiburon Mayor Alice Fredericks told the Marin IJ she was not surprised by the announcement, but it came "a few weeks earlier than expected. The county settled with Grimes family for nearly $1 million. Is it your store? Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. A Tiburon police spokesperson tells ABC7 News the town has hired an outside, independent attorney to conduct an investigation. Where do you live? Madfes says. You sure? I, kindly, explained that we didnt have to prove anything and asked for a supervisor. VIDEO: Man fired after blocking Latino man from entering his own apartment building in SF, "There was nothing suspicious about their activity," says one person. Tiburon police chief to retire amid backlash over alleged racial profiling, Restaurant chain slated to close site at Bay Area mall, Grapevine closed indefinitely due to heavy snow and ice, Graupel falls on Disneyland, shocks guests, One of the largest movie theaters in SF to close permanently, Plan to bring bullet train from LA to Vegas is underway, What it looks like inside Coit Towers former apartment, Avalanche slams into Tahoe apartment building amid blizzard, Hundreds of thousands of workers have abandoned downtown SF, 'Zero visibility' conditions: All roads to Tahoe are closed, Tahoe's snowfall totals are on track to break records, Popular yet divisive fast food chain coming to this Bay Area town, Report: Matthew McConaughey has a massive Salesforce paycheck, Why every Californian needs an air quality monitor, 10 beach essentials to pack for a spring break vacation, If travel planning gives you a headache, try these apps, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). 49K views 2 years ago Tiburon has released footage from a police officer's body-worn camera of a controversial Friday night confrontation between police and a Black business owner who was. After Cronins exit, the town arranged for Undersheriff Jamie Scardina to run the police department on a part-time interim basis while a consulting firm recruited a new chief. The couple say they had received a large shipment of merchandise and that they and a visiting friend and business associate had been restocking the store to prepare for the weekend shortly before a patrol officer knocked on the door and questioned why they were there. I opened the door for him then he proceeded to tell me his purpose for knocking on our door was to check what we were doing at the store that late. Matthew Tom is a Homepage Editor at SFGATE. Khalif and Awash said Chanis, the town manager, reached out to them after the incident, and the three met on Aug. 23. The governing councils are to hold a joint online Town Hall-Community Forum on Aug. 27. Awash says shes been stopped in her car by a single officer three to five times in the past year and a half. 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