San Jose POA is transparently taking action
The drug smuggling prices in opposition to our former civilian workplace supervisor has created authentic considerations which might be being swiftly addressed by our union in a clear and thorough method. What’s unlucky, but predictable, is that some people and organizations are conniving methods to take advantage of this one particular person’s allegedly abhorrent legal habits to attempt to weaken our union for his or her political acquire.
Some have deserted cause, recklessly speculated and knowingly disregarded the information surrounding this case of their quest to besmirch the status of our union and our rank-and-file cops.
It’s time to set the document straight.
The U.S. Legal professional filed a legal criticism in opposition to Joanne Segovia for allegedly importing and distributing fentanyl. All through the criticism and all accompanying data launched by the U.S. Legal professional, Segovia is the one particular person related to these alleged crimes.
The criticism may be very clear that, past Segovia, no particular person related to the San Jose Police Officers’ Affiliation, the San Jose Police Division or the Metropolis of San Jose has any involvement. It’s curious how this truth escapes these attacking our union.
Requires an outdoor investigation shouted at press conferences or showing in editorials ignore the fact that the U.S. Legal professional and the Division of Homeland Safety are conducting an ongoing federal investigation. If these entities want help from our native District Legal professional or from the SJPD, each DA Jeff Rosen and Chief Anthony Mata have rightfully pledged their full cooperation.
But, questions stay.
Resembling: “How did the SJPOA not know that its “govt director,” the pinnacle of its union, was concerned with this criminality?” The reply begins by understanding what Segovia’s precise job entailed on the SJPOA.
Segovia was named govt director of our union a number of years in the past. It was a title bump. Nevertheless, her precise duties had been akin to an workplace supervisor who oversaw a employees of three civilian staff and ensured the graceful administration of the union.
Segovia didn’t take part in or present enter on labor negotiations. She didn’t characterize officers in authorized or self-discipline issues, attend conferences with metropolis officers or councilmembers, or advise on political endorsements. She didn’t make monetary selections or have check-writing authority or authorize any political motion committee endorsements or expenditures. She was not, and by no means was, the “head of the union.”
These are vital distinctions as a result of there’s been a lot misinformed hypothesis and purposeful innuendo as to how the “head of the union” might have gotten away with what’s alleged. Segovia flew below the radar exactly as a result of she was not the pinnacle of our union and allegedly orchestrated a yearslong deception that, in response to newspaper stories, duped not solely those that labored intently along with her however even her relations.
Upon studying of the investigation, our union moved swiftly to totally cooperate with the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace and positioned Segovia on go away. We subsequently launched section considered one of our inner investigation, culminating within the termination of Segovia. Section two can be performed by an unimpeachable, skilled investigator who will decide if there was any coverage, process, protocol or mechanism that would have been in place that might have recognized the alleged deceitful legal conduct sooner.
Union selections are made by our president, the manager board, and in the end licensed by our whole board of administrators on behalf of the women and men who’re members of our union. All of us are sworn members of the SJPD, and we’re all disgusted and deeply saddened by these allegations as they fly within the face of our collective efforts to take fentanyl and people who push it off our streets. We’ll proceed to behave transparently based mostly upon information and never hypothesis. We urge others to do the identical.
Sean Pritchard is president of the San Jose Police Officers Affiliation. Steve Slack is vp of the San Jose Police Officers Affiliation.
