The police chief of the wealthy Bay Area town of Tiburon has announced his retirement as the community reels over a confrontation between police and . Where do you live? Madfes says. However, Linda Emberson of Tiburon countered. As the recorded interaction passes the 5-minute mark, a neighbor farther down Main Street came out onto his balcony and yelled at the officers that Khalif was the owner of the store. I think of all of the very late nights I have worked in those offices and never once did the police come by to see who was there as I sat at my desk clearly visible in the window, she said in an email to town officials. , and a business friend, all of whom are Black, were at their store late at night counting inventory, according to a post on YEMAs Instagram account. She said that included conversations about how police officers can re-examine their implicit biases and eliminate their own fear on the job. The shop owners filed a $2 million claim against the town. The Tiburon and Belvedere council held a joint meeting on Thursday to give the polarized community a chance to weigh in. Several months later, the store was named Tiburons Business of the Month. Michael Blasi arrived and an officer asked her husband to take his hands out of his pockets. There's video of the interaction and an investigation underway. The officers immediately left the store. Khalif and Awash said Chanis, the town manager, reached out to them after the incident, and the three met on Aug. 23. Some police officers have used digital media to brag about their racially violent exploits. Tiburon officials have released body-camera footage from the first officer at the scene of a late-night confrontation between police and Black business owner Yema Khalif, who asserts he was racially profiled when questioned at his downtown shop. Khalif and Awash said Chanis, the town manager, reached out to them after the incident, and the three met on Aug. 23. I want to know what youre doing in this store at one oclock in the morning? one of the officers is heard asking in the clip. All the applicants expressed an understanding of the events that have transpired in Tiburon in the last eight months, Chanis said. It looked like they were harassing him and I thought, This has gone on for several minutes. It just felt like it was going to progress into something ugly., Khalif called the fact that the situation was diffused by a white neighbor yelling down to vouch for him the icing on the cake., A Black man cannot be in this space in this particular hour and say, Im OK, no need to be talking to you, move along. They were politely doing the job they were hired for and if the owner had cooperated right away there would not have been an issue.. Cronin faced backlash in June following a press release that warned residents of Sausalito and Tiburon that they might be targets of unrest caused by a Marin City demonstration in protest of the murder of George Floyd, which remained peaceful. Khalif acknowledged several times that I want you to look out for my store and I want you to look out for my community, but he repeatedly asked the officers what activity, beyond his presence alone, was suspicious and required explanation. The supervisor came charged and did not come to deescalate anything. Then show me that its your store, said the officer. During hours when the department is closed, visitors can be directly connected to our dispatch center via a phone outside our front entrance. A video depicting Tiburon police officers in heated exchange with the owner of the towns only Black-owned business while working late in his downtown shop has sparked outrage in the community. Really? In a year marked by the killings of Black people at the hands of law enforcement, leading to protests nationwide calling for police reform, the conduct of the Tiburon officers is particularly tone . It first operated from 80 Main Street before moving in the late 70's into surplus military housing near its present site. Everything I was saying fell on deaf ears.. A statement agreed upon by all of the parties to the lawsuit said that investigations by the San Rafael Police Department and the FBI concluded that there was no criminal conduct and no criminal violation of Grimes civil rights by the sheriffs office. Blasi offered, and the town has accepted, his voluntary resignation." 49K views 2 years ago Tiburon has released footage from a police officer's body-worn camera of a controversial Friday night confrontation between police and a Black business owner who was. Video shows the interaction between the store owner and the police supervisor, who demanded, "I want to know what you're doing in the store at 1'oclock in the morning.". In our 50th year serving Tiburon, Belvedere & Strawberry. TIBURON, Calif. (KGO) -- A Black business owner is speaking out after Tiburon police demanded proof he was the store's owner. However, he believes it would be difficult to continue being effective as a police officer in Tiburon.. Comment at the meeting, or in advance by emailing comments@townoftiburon.org. It looked like they were harassing him and I thought, This has gone on for several minutes, Simpson said. Based on this belief, Sgt. Maegan Hall, the female officer at the center of the scandal, has been fired, city officials said. A Black man can not say that, but a white man can.. It came from knowing that in one split second they could end someones life.. In the video, Blasi eventually says Khalif should be grateful that the officers are looking out for his shop. Reach him at 415-435-2652, on Twitter at @thearknewspaper and on Facebook at fb.me/thearknewspaper. Monaghans starting annual salary is $195,000, which is 3% less than Cronins salary, Chanis said. In our 50th year serving Tiburon, Belvedere & Strawberry. Blasi stepped in and was recorded arguing with Khalif while the patrol officer and a Belvedere officer stood by. TIBURON, Calif. - A Tiburon couple who own a clothing store is accusing police of racially profiling them. Put your key in the door and were out of here. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. After another shop owner yelled at police, telling them the couple did own the store, the officers left. She said that included conversations about how police officers can re-examine their implicit biases and eliminate their own fear on the job. The supervisor demanded Khalif put his key in the door to prove ownership when a neighbor shouted at police identifying him. Michael Blasi, was posted by Khalif to social media later Aug. 21. Body cam and cell phone footage shows the altercation as it unfolds. Should you desire additional information that doesnt appear on the site, please contact us directly at 415-789-2801 or by using the department directory. today at a #BlackLivesMatter rally in response to a standoff in which Sgt. Grime, 47, was placed in a hobbling device, binding his handcuffs to ankle restraints behind his back. Reach her at 415-944-4627. Belvedere City Manager Craig Middleton said one of the officers who was acting in a backup role is employed with Belvedere Police Department. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? As a community, we need to demand change in our public servants when it becomes clear their own unrecognized prejudices can no longer allow them to protect and serve all residents.. Michael Blasi resigned after the release of police body-cam video showed Blasi and other officers questioning whether Yema Khalif and his wife Hawi Awash had a right to be in their own downtown store after hours. Chanis said neither Cronin nor Blasi are able to comment due to the pending investigation. In the post. You know what, put the key in the door and were outta here., Khalif is seen picking through his keys as he tells Blasi to stand back and not raise his voice at him: Just chill and Ill put my key in the door., Before he can, neighbor Ken Simpson, a part-time resident of a Main Street apartment, yells down twice, Thats his store.. Based on this belief, Sgt. It sparked widespread outrage within the community and prompted town officials to order an independent investigation into the officers conduct. A Black business owner believes he was racially profiled by police as he was filling inventory inside his store last Friday at 1 a.m. At the conclusion of the investigation the report will be provided to the Town Manager for review and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigator, Cronin said. Whatever the intention of the responding offices, the interchange inappropriately deteriorated from helpful to confrontational, Fredericks wrote in an email sent to the community. A Tiburon police sergeant has resigned following a confrontation with a Black merchant that critics say stemmed from racial profiling. U.S. California Police Instagram. Tiburon officials have released body-camera footage from the first officer at the scene of a late-night confrontation between police and Black business owner Yema Khalif, who asserts he was racially profiled when questioned at his downtown shop. Is it your store? Ultimately, I sign off on every hire for the town, Chanis said. Based on this belief, Sgt. The town has been conducting background and medical checks since then. Lewis Powell, Sgt. Thank you very much, thats all I need to know, Blasi said in the video and walked away toward Tiburon Boulevard. said Yema Khalif in a video his friend took. The department is open to the public. As the town of Tiburon deals with a controversy involving the Police Department and a Black-owned business, Police Chief Michael Cronin announced on Tuesday that he will retire, according to the Marin Independent Journal. Khalif becomes increasingly frustrated as Blasis requirement shifts: Did you identify yourself? Cronin's departure comes on the heels of Sgt. After Khalif asks four times what happens next if he acknowledges it is, Blasi says Khalif should be grateful that the officers are looking out for his shop. I still believe that the person at the head, Chief Cronin, needs to take some responsibility and do the same that Blasi did and step down, Austin said. Khalif insisted that if he acknowledged he was the owner, absent the officers explanation of a problem, evidence of a crime or reason to doubt him, he didnt need to explain why he was in his own store after hours. Once she found out about Blasis past, she said she felt lucky the situation did not end with violence. You know, this is not something that is good for the community when this happens, so when everybody has a voice, everybody gets involved, when everybody speaks up when they see any kind of an injustice happening not being bystanders makes the community better, Khalif said. VIDEO: Berkeley mom films confrontation with white man who ripped down Black Lives Matter signs, Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, FL Gov. In addition to normal police activities, the police station also houses the Emergency Operations Center, which is equipped to manage disaster response for Tiburon and Belvedere. About 6 minutes of cellphone footage of the encounter with the supervisor, Tiburon police Sgt. The argument continued for a few more minutes, with both Blasi and Khalif raising their voices. Although Ryan Monaghan was not my choice, Im looking forward to working with him to find out what his plans are for community policing, diversity and inclusion, and hiring and promotion within the department, he said. D, Tiburon, CA 94920 |. I expressed to him that there was no crime going on and we were going about our business. She said she used to work for Frank Howard Allen Realtors when it had a storefront office in downtown Tiburon. In one response, Blasi explained that police are not able to detain a person without a lawful, articulable reason and compel them to identify themselves. At least three large posters of Khalif and Awash modeling their clothes are visible on the rear wall throughout the footage. You can contact staff from the Police Department and get information about their divisions: Tiburon Town Hall | 1505 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA 94920 | Phone: 415-435-7373 Hours: Administration: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Planning: 8 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Building: 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Public Works: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Town Hall is closed on Fridays. Footage of the incident on August 21st can be seen on YEMAs Instagram (@Yemacalif). Marin City Matters member Paul Austin said Blasis resignation is a step in the right direction, but there is more work to be done starting from the top down. While Tiburon Police Chief Michael Cronin and Town Manager Greg Chanis have ordered an independent investigation into the incident, the results of which will be reviewed by the Town Council, Cronin said neither Blasi nor the two other officers involved would be suspended or put on administrative leave amid the investigation. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. It is clear that did not occur in this instance.. Khalif spoke at the rally. David Zalubowski/AP. 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At 1 a.m. Saturday morning, Tiburon police officers saw three people inside the clothing store Yema on Main Street and decided to check it out. The Tiburon Police Department has 12 sworn officers and four other employees, plus volunteer and reserve officers. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? I do not have to show you nothing! replied Khalif. At the conclusion of the investigation, the findings will be presented to her and the rest of the Tiburon Town Council. Cronin quickly apologized, saying he stood in support of peaceful protests in Marin City and condemned racism, social injustice and police brutality. Critics also note the officers finally left without the proof they said was required for 11 minutes only when a white Main Street resident who overheard the confrontation shouted, Thats his store.. Blasi and two other officers then leave. That's all we want to know. The newly released footage begins about 6 minutes before that video begins, when Madfes is already parked on Tiburon Boulevard at Main Street and is getting out of his squad car. Cause you dont sound like youre very grateful. Khalif said he wasnt particularly impressed with that statement. TAKE ACTION: Find resources to help with equality, justice and race issues. The department also updated its use-of-force policy to align with calls to de-escalate police encounters with the public. At the 10-minute mark, Madfes chimes in again: Prove to us you have keys or , There you go, thats the perfect thing, Blasi says as Khalif removes something from his pocket. Ste. There's video of the interaction and an investigation underway. videotaped confronting a Black business owner, Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Awash, however, said this is not the first negative interaction with Tiburon police; she said shes been stopped more than five times by another officer. Khalif said Fredericks came by the shop on Aug. 24, two days after she had sent out her email statement extending her heartfelt apologies to the couple. When a police officer leaves their department because of misconduct, there's no easy public way for people to know if they're rehired elsewhere in law enforcement. Then show me its your store, Blasi responds. Khalif replies, No, just doing our thing and asks if theres a problem. Khalif posted the video to Instagram. Moments later, a neighbor awoken by the yelling can be heard telling police that Khalif was the store owner. Many speakers provided meaningful suggestions and identified specific actions the councils could consider to ensure our communities are safe and welcoming to all, Chanis said. We received new inventory during the day so we went back to our store, on Main street Tiburon California, to work late. VIDEO: Man fired after blocking Latino man from entering his own apartment building in SF, "There was nothing suspicious about their activity," says one person. The couple say they had received a large shipment of merchandise and that they and a visiting friend and business associate had been restocking the store to prepare for the weekend shortly before a patrol officer knocked on the door and questioned why they were there. The incident was recorded by Yema Khalifs wife and business partner Hawi Awash from inside their clothing store Yema on Main Street around 1 a.m. Friday. DeSantis coming to CA as new poll shows him leading Trump, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody'. A Black. They opened the athletic apparel boutique in February. Ste. Their pictures are even on the store's walls. Grime died in a hospital two days later. In it, you can hear officers questioning Khalif multiple times: "Do one of you own the store?". His tone not very like-able. If you have a problem, you tell me . I cannot fathom how that could happen. Khalif, a resident for nearly 10 years, says hes been stopped while walking home and had to prove that he lives in Tiburon. Awash began recording as Sgt. Do you want us to look out for the community or do you want us to let anybody walk in here at 2 oclock in the morning and steal all your stuff? Blasi is heard saying on the video. At the conclusion of the investigation the report will be provided to the Town Manager for review and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigator.". How safe is your neighborhood? TIBURON (KPIX/CBS SF) -- The police chief of the City of Tiburon is stepping down , according to a report in the Marin Independent Journal. I was not specifically aware of that event.. "There's three Black people in the store, what's the problem?" Henry Ty McGowan, Detective Seneca Shields and. When we hire police, the police chief makes a recommendation, but the town manager approves every hire.. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Cronin declined to directly comment on the Aug. 21 incident until the investigation has concluded, but he confirmed Blasi and the other officers involved would continue coming to work through the investigation. Some days we have to work late. In these conversations, Sergeant Blasi expressed his love for Tiburon and described the deep connection he developed during his time serving the community, Chanis wrote in a message to residents. In another post, Blasi is asked what kind of behavior can get someone in trouble with the police, to which he responded, resisting a detention or arrest and failing to identify yourself or providing ID when directed by an officer., He also says he wouldnt recommend anyone become a police officer in todays environment, citing media and social-media scrutiny, internet armchair quarterbacks evaluating every real-time decision (and) unqualified and incompetent civilian-oversight committees that are usually someones bulls political agenda.. In response to public outcry, Blasi offered his resignation from the Tiburon Police department, which went into effect September 1. Blasi will receive three months of salary from Tiburon as severance pay, Chanis said. Tiburon police sergeant shoots self in police station Amy Larson 12/14/2022 TIBURON, Calif. (KRON) A Tiburon Police Department sergeant fatally shot himself inside the police. Cronin's announcement comes one week after Sgt. Tiburon officials say an independent investigation is now underway, which is the reason why officers were not at Thursday's meeting. The incident revolves around the officers assertions that because most Main Street businesses shut down about 9 or 10 p.m., and theyd never seen workers inside the shop at 1 a.m., Khalif was required to explain to the officers why they were inside and provide some physical evidence identification or a key in the door that he is the owner. Again, Khalif says hell speak to the supervisor, but Madfes insists Khalif is required to give me a lawful reason why youre here.. D, Tiburon, CA 94920 | 415-435-2652 | Privacy Policy| Designed by Kevin Hessel. The argument continued for a few more minutes, with both Blasi and Khalif raising their voices. The police denied a racial motive and said they were doing their jobs. 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