San Jose officer fired for sharing racist texts.
OAN’s Abril Elfi
10:18 AM – Sunday, November 5, 2023
A California police officer has resigned from the force after a series of racist text messages were revealed following his involvement in the shooting of a college football player.
San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata announced on Friday that Mark McNamara, the police officer involved in a shooting involving a former football player, is no longer working with them after a message exchange shows him sending a text that read “I hate black people.”
In a news release, snippets of a text thread between McNamara and another unnamed employee of the police department were shared following the March 27, 2022 shooting at La Victoria Taqueria, which left K’aun Green, a Contra Costa College defensive linebacker severely injured.
Mata addressed the situation, informing the public that “racial bias” has no place in the police department.
“I am committed, as your Police Chief, that I will rid our ranks of individuals who act in a manner counter to the mission and values of our department,” Mata said in a written statement. “If any employee’s racial bias rears its ugly head, rest assured that I will take immediate action to ensure they are not part of this organization.”
Media reports stated that the former officer resigned earlier this week after he discovered that he was being investigated by the Internal Affairs unit. McNamara was one of the officers that shot Green four times in the back, abdomen, and arm at La Vic.
According to footage and his lawyers, there was a brawl in the taqueria that night, and Green ended up wrestling a gun away from the true shooter. On security video, he was seen walking out of the taco business backwards, holding the confiscated gun.
Police responded quickly and claimed they shot Green because a killing had occurred approximately 30 minutes earlier a block away, and they suspected the two incidents were connected and an active gunman was on the loose.
These two situations turned out to be unrelated.
When it was revealed that Green had actually grabbed the pistol away from the gunman, authorities did not change their story to reflect the truth. Furthermore, the police department did not notify Green about the racist texts on Friday night, despite the fact that his attorneys were.
In a text message dated the day after the shooting, McNamara appears to be talking about Green saying “N—- wanted to carry a gun in the Wild West … Not on my watch,” and “I hate black (sic) people.”
Other texts appear to have been sent in June 2023, while McNamara was being examined by the San Jose city attorney and Green’s lawyers, Alexander, Adante Pointer, and Patrick Buelna, who sued the city over the shooting.
The text include some that say:
“There was like 65 African lookin’ [sic] mother fuckers there too. All just mean mugging me and taking notes. They should all be bowing to me and brining [sic] me gifts since I saved a fellow n—a by making him rich as fuck. Otherwise he woulda [sic] lived a life of poverty and crime.”
“The other day this n— lawyer is like Mr McNamara, you know we can still find you guilty of excessive force right? I’m like, hmmm yeah then (what) happens?? … Think I give a f—- what y’all n—- think?!???? I’ll shoot you too!!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!”
McNamara further stated that Green should be thanking him for shooting him and that he is unconcerned about what occurred.
“I finally had to tell this city attorney what’s what,” McNamara texted. “I’m like dude, I don’t give a shit about this case. I’m white, he’s black, he’s gonna win. AND I DONT CARE. It’s a b—- whatever they decide has no bearing on me what so ever. It’s basically kangaroo court.”
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan (D-Calif.) responded to the situation, saying “there is nothing more sickening than a person in power abusing their position… I will sleep better tonight knowing that this individual is no longer carrying a badge and a gun.”
Mata said criminal charges over the texts have not been filed nor are any anticipated to be.
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How can law enforcement agencies implement transparency, accountability, and cultural reform to restore public trust and ensure equitable treatment for all members of the community?
Of our department,” Mata said in a statement. “We will not tolerate discrimination or racism of any kind.”
The text messages surfaced during an investigation into the shooting incident, which occurred when McNamara and another officer responded to reports of a man allegedly pointing a gun at someone inside La Victoria Taqueria. Video footage captured the incident, showing McNamara and the other officer shooting and wounding the individual.
The release of the text messages sparked outrage within the community, with many calling for accountability and justice. Activists and community leaders held protests demanding the immediate termination of McNamara and a thorough examination of the police department’s culture and practices.
The incident further ignited the ongoing debate surrounding police brutality and racial biases in law enforcement. It highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and accountability measures to ensure that instances of discrimination and racism are properly addressed within police departments across the country.
Following the release of the text messages, community leaders and activists have called for an independent investigation into the San Jose Police Department, urging transparency and accountability. They emphasize the importance of restoring trust between law enforcement and the community they serve.
In recent years, numerous cases involving police officers making racist remarks or engaging in discriminatory behavior have come to light, further eroding public trust in law enforcement. These incidents shed light on the systemic issues that persist within police departments and the urgent need for reform.
Efforts must be made not only to identify and remove racist individuals from the police force, but also to address the underlying institutional and structural issues that perpetuate such behavior. Transparency, accountability, and cultural reform are necessary to restore public trust and ensure that law enforcement truly serves and protects all members of the community.
In the wake of this incident, it is crucial for the San Jose Police Department to take swift and decisive action to address the concerns raised by the community. This includes conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, implementing diversity and inclusivity training programs for officers, and reevaluating recruitment and disciplinary processes.
Racial bias within law enforcement undermines the legitimacy of the justice system and exacerbates existing social divisions. It is essential for police departments to acknowledge, confront, and actively dismantle these biases to build a more just and equitable society. The San Jose Police Department must seize this opportunity to lead by example and demonstrate its commitment to eradicating racism and discrimination within its ranks.
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