Oakland Mayor gave order to attack protesters. Police Chief didn't want to.

[in_cog_ni_to]

As per husband, who heard it on Thom's show, the Police CHIEF didn't want to attack and she, the Mayor, trumped him. If the Police Chief refuses an order by a Mayor, how does that Mayor go over his head?

IMO, I think this is a bullshit story. Now that the police are seeing the result of their attack, they're trying to shift the blame.

Anyone know how a Mayor can go over the head of a Police Chief and get that police Chief's force to do what SHE wants, without the Chief giving the actual order?

edited to change subject line

[No Elephants]

1. How does anyone's boss handle an employee who refuses to do as he or she is told?

You fire them (or suspend them without pay) and hire or promote someone else who follows orders.

[EFerrari]

11. Police Chief is interim replacement after a resignation.

His stake in that job is not clear.

[Drale]

2. Reminds me of the Haymarket Square bombing

the Chicago Police Chief and Mayor told the officers to leave the workers alone because they where not bothering anyone but a sergeant and his men decided to take the law into their own hands and showed up to arrest everyone, a bomb was thrown by someone and the rest is history.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. ...a bomb was thrown by someone and the rest is history.

That should read: ...a bomb was thrown by a Pinkerton and the rest is history.

[Drale]

6. Thats a possibility but

there is not any evidence who threw the bomb and when it comes to history you can't just say something because you want it to be true, thats what right wingers do.

[JPZenger]

4. In most cities, the Mayor has direct control over the Police

The Police can refuse an unlawful order (such as to persecute a political rival). However, typically the Mayor can order the Police around, and the Mayor can remove the Police Chief.

A proper response if a Mayor is unreasonable would be the Police Chief to say that he will publicly resign at a press conference if the order is not revised.

Of course, a Police Chief could also have his officers make a non-violent half-hearted attempt to follow the Mayor's orders.

[Robb]

5. More importantly, did the mayor also tell the chief to lie to the press?

It will be the coverup that gets them all.

[greyl]

7. Not enough detail, i.e., evidence in the OP to believe this.

Yet.
Who actually made the claim on Thom's show?

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. Thom Hartmann himself. n/t

[greyl]

9. and Thom knows how the police chief felt how? nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. You would have to ask him. I'm just repeating what he said on his show. n/t

[MerryBlooms]

10. I know this probably sounds out there, but it's my pure emotional feeling

Not a single person involved in either the decision, or the execution of those orders, should remain in their jobs or without serious punishment. The film footage provided proves such egregious actions were taken, that swift and severe action against the mayor and the pd is warranted.

[EFerrari]

12. I've been posting #ResignJean on Twitter.

Her voicemail was full last night. It needs to stay that way. What kind of person orders a police force to attack her own peaceful citizens.

[City Lights]

13. What is the chain of command in Oakland?

I would think the mayor gives the orders and the police chief follows them. At least those that fall under his/her jurisdiction.

[Earth_First]

14. The GOVERNOR of New York ordered OccupyAlbany evicted...

and the STATE POLICE in support of the Albany Capital District Police REFUSED.

I smell bullsh*t.

Oakland has paved it's own legacy in violence against citizens.

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. Exactly! Bullshit. If that Iraq War Vet, who is now in critical condition from a tear gas canister

to the head, dies..they have a SERIOUS problem on their hands...AT their hands.

[gratuitous]

17. We are being lied to

The only question is by whom.

[frylock]

18. then the chief of police should tender his resignation in protest..

don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.

[TorchTheWitch]

19. No police chief is at the top of the government chain

Every single police department is beholden to the local government that controls them. If a police department sucks it's always because that's exactly the way the local government that controls that department wants it.

[Fumesucker]

21. On the official table of organization the police chief is not at the top..

But an out of control department can be exceedingly difficult to rein in, cops really have a lot of ways of blackmailing people and almost never get called on it.

[Matariki]

20. interestingly, she's saying the exact opposite.