San Francisco Police Department Early Intervention System set to begin in February

Ramirez case discussed

By Brent Begin, Bay City News Service

November 9, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - With a busy agenda scheduled for next week, the San Francisco Police Commission spent much of yesterday's meeting discussing the progress of an early intervention system.

The system, which would track any symptoms of job stress or personal problems for officers, has experienced delays since the department began working with the Police Officers Association and the American Civil Liberties Union earlier this year.

According to Deputy Chief Charles Keohane, the start date will be Feb. 5 of next year.

Also at the meeting, Commissioner Joe Veronese called on the police commission to investigate the case of Officer Donald Ramirez, who allegedly shot himself twice in a Cambodian jail cell.

Veronese said the department should immediately look into how Ramirez, who was placed in the Cambodian jail after allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl in Phnom Penh, died and if there were any signs of misconduct in his years as an officer.

There is "no greater issue in the department than this," Veronese said of the investigation.

The commission also voted unanimously to send the settlement of a lawsuit to the Board of Supervisors. The value and the details of the Omari McGee v. the City and County of San Francisco settlement were not made public.

Five members attended tonight's meeting: Vice President David Campos, Theresa Sparks, Petra DeJesus, Joe Veronese and Yvonne Lee.

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