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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/05/BA1P1CBJ92.DTL
http://tinyurl.com/ygzhck9
Park officer posed as another, lied to press
Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, March 6, 2010
A U.S. Park Police officer is facing disciplinary action after lying to The Chronicle and the New York Times by identifying himself as a former officer and in an unseemly manner, according to the San Francisco field office commander for the U.S. Park Police.
The officer, Ken Rawles, was assigned to work undercover to take photographs and video of officers and their interactions with gun activists during a Baker Beach event at which activists sought to carry visible, unloaded handguns on the beach, said Major Jason Wu.
But, dressed in plain clothes, Rawles told reporters covering the event that he was Brad Lawrence. Lawrence is the name of a former U.S. Park Police officer who now works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Georgia. Rawles told reporters he was at the beach to video people sunbathing in the nude, but finding none began to photograph and video the gun activists.
His statements appeared in a Chronicle story Sunday and in a New York Times blog about the event. Colleagues of Lawrence contacted the Chronicle upset at the portrayal.
"What Officer Rawles did is not something that we would do," said Wu. "Certainly, I am not too pleased about that myself."
Wu said Rawles' video and photographs were intended to be used later for training purposes, as people are now allowed to bring licensed and unloaded handguns into national parks, such as the Presidio, where Baker Beach is located.
"What we're looking to make sure is that the interaction between the officer and the citizens are appropriate - which can work both ways, as you know," Wu said. "We do respect people's constitutional rights, but we do have to make sure for public safety to make sure the weapons are not violating state laws."
Wu said that Rawles would face internal discipline, but declined to state what that would be.
"He was there with pretty clear instruction and that was to capture on video and camera the interactions, and nothing more," Wu said.
E-mail Matthai Kuruvila at mkuruvila@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page C - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/05/BA1P1CBJ92.DTL
http://tinyurl.com/ygzhck9
Park officer posed as another, lied to press
Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, March 6, 2010
A U.S. Park Police officer is facing disciplinary action after lying to The Chronicle and the New York Times by identifying himself as a former officer and in an unseemly manner, according to the San Francisco field office commander for the U.S. Park Police.
The officer, Ken Rawles, was assigned to work undercover to take photographs and video of officers and their interactions with gun activists during a Baker Beach event at which activists sought to carry visible, unloaded handguns on the beach, said Major Jason Wu.
But, dressed in plain clothes, Rawles told reporters covering the event that he was Brad Lawrence. Lawrence is the name of a former U.S. Park Police officer who now works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Georgia. Rawles told reporters he was at the beach to video people sunbathing in the nude, but finding none began to photograph and video the gun activists.
His statements appeared in a Chronicle story Sunday and in a New York Times blog about the event. Colleagues of Lawrence contacted the Chronicle upset at the portrayal.
"What Officer Rawles did is not something that we would do," said Wu. "Certainly, I am not too pleased about that myself."
Wu said Rawles' video and photographs were intended to be used later for training purposes, as people are now allowed to bring licensed and unloaded handguns into national parks, such as the Presidio, where Baker Beach is located.
"What we're looking to make sure is that the interaction between the officer and the citizens are appropriate - which can work both ways, as you know," Wu said. "We do respect people's constitutional rights, but we do have to make sure for public safety to make sure the weapons are not violating state laws."
Wu said that Rawles would face internal discipline, but declined to state what that would be.
"He was there with pretty clear instruction and that was to capture on video and camera the interactions, and nothing more," Wu said.
E-mail Matthai Kuruvila at mkuruvila@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page C - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle