Racist, Homophobic Texts Revealed Between San Francisco Police Officers
The texts came up during a corruption investigation.
— -- An investigation is underway into dozens of racist and homophobic texts allegedly sent between San Francisco police officers amidst a corruption case against one of the cops.
The racist messages were reportedly found by prosecutors during the investigation of a corruption case against Sgt. Ian Furminger, the one officer named.
Furminger has already been convicted of corruption and the texts have now been disclosed to show the officer's character in a motion filed by the U.S. Attorney's office to deny him bail.
Prosecutors said in court documents that Furminger should be denied bail because "he is a virulent racist and homophobe who, even while a police officer, felt free to share his views with other individuals, including other San Francisco police officers."
The court documents show text conversations between Furminger and other officers including a message where Furminger allegedly says, "We got two blacks at my boys [sic] school and they are brother and sister! There cause dad works for the school district and I am watching them like hawks."
In another message, according to the court documents, Furminger says, "'I hate to tell you this but my wife friend [sic] is over with their kids and her husband is black! If [sic] is an Attorney but should I be worried?'"
According to the court documents, these messages "should be taken into account" in denying Furminger bail because "Although these sort of overtly racist views sadly still are expressed in some communities, it is shocking and appalling to find a police officer in San Francisco who would give voice to them."
The San Francisco Police Department is now investigating several officers involved in the texts, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. A spokesman for the SFPD told the Chronicle that the officers have been reassigned and the investigation is ongoing.
ABC News' request for comment from SFPD was not immediately returned.