Ex-Peninsula Top Cop Orders Hate Speech Probe In New Role

OAKLAND, CA — Former San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer in her new role as Oakland’s interim top cop has ordered an investigation amid allegations that current employees have engaged in hate speech on social media.

The probe follows reports of alleged police involvement in the Jan. 6 violent insurrection at the Capitol that left five dead including a Capitol Police officer.

Two Capitol Police officers were suspended and at least 10 others are being investigated for their roles in one of the darkest days in American political history when rioters stormed the Capitol, CNN reports.

The riot followed a pro-Trump rally in support of the president’s baseless claims of election fraud.

“We will not tolerate any form of hate speech, any expression that supports hate speech, or any acts of subversion, whether in-person or on online platforms,” the Oakland Police Department said in a statement.

The statement said OPD employees whether or not they are on duty “are prohibited from affiliating with subversive groups,” or doing anything that “brings disrepute to the Department and erodes the public’s trust.”

The statement does not specify which subversive groups the employees are alleged to have engaged with, but the announcement of the probe follows published reports that former Oakland Police officer Jurell Snyder was among the rioters who stormed the Capitol Building.

Snyder, who served on the OPD from 2006 to 2015 and now backs the violent far-right “Boogaloo” movement, confirmed in a since-scrubbed Facebook post that he was in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

“I wanted my friends and family to know what happened,” Snyder’s wrote on the social media site according to the report.

“They call us terrorists in the media, but we know the truth. We must preserve our constitutional republic at all costs.”

Several current officer “liked” Snyder’s posts, Oaklandside reports.

The OPD issued a separate statement Thursday condemning Snyder’s role in the Capitol insurrection.

“Our democracy is the very foundation of the rule of law and our law enforcement officers are on the front lines of defending and upholding these tenets,” the statement said.

“Anyone engaged in the unlawful behavior that occurred at the Capitol and injured officers and civilians alike should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Manheimer vowed to hold accountable any OPD employee who engaged on social media in support of hate speech.

“The trust of our community is our highest priority. We will not tolerate any breach of that trust from any member of our Department,” Manheimer said in a statement.

Manheimer led the SMPD for nearly 20 years, retiring at the end of 2019. She is credited with modernizing the force and developing an enduring model of community policing.

Under her leadership the San Mateo Police Department earned national acclaim for innovative crime prevention, juvenile, and homeless outreach programs that have been widely adopted throughout the country.

"Chief Manheimer's leadership has been transformational, not only for the San Mateo Police Department, but for the County as a whole, San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy, the City's former Deputy Police Chief, said.

"As the Chief retires, her leadership throughout San Mateo County will be greatly missed, but her legacy will live on through those who served under her as well as those in the numerous organizations that she lent her time, talent and expertise to."

— Patch staffer Mark Nero contributed to this report