As a result of an investigation revealing that the police officer had written “disgusting text messages which demonstrated racial bias,” San Jose Chief of Police Anthony Mata announced the officer’s termination on Friday.
Numerous racist texts are purportedly sent by the former cop, Mark McNamara. According to the announcement, the texts were found by the department’s internal affairs investigators while looking into the officer for a separate criminal charge.
According to the announcement, on March 27, 2022, McNamara was a participant in an officer-related shooting at La Victoria Taqueria in downtown San Jose. Following the shooting, he was placed on standard administrative leave, per a police briefing.
The department released text messages that were sent in June and July of 2023, as well as the day following the incident, with the names and phone numbers of those involved largely blacked.
Mata stated that an independent inquiry into McNamara was started “immediately” after the text exchanges were found.
One of the texts McNamara sent stated, “I hate black people,” according to police-released records. McNamara labels himself as white in a different communication.
Additionally, according to the collection of communications police released, he used the N-word in various forms several times.
According to Mata’s statement, a police officer who is currently on the force and who received some of McNamara’s communications “engaged in other disturbing dialogue with the former officer.” The unidentified worker has been put on administrative leave while an internal inquiry is conducted.
“There is zero tolerance for regardless a single expression of racial discrimination at the San Jose Police Department,” Mata stated in the press release, adding that “the messages were discovered due to the expansion of our Internally Affairs Unit’s efforts to carefully investigate all questionable conduct as well as is why we have made expenditures in a new early warning system.”
Mata claimed that because his department has been “proactive and transparent” in all of its investigations, this is the “promised accountability” that has come about.
“If any employee’s discrimination based on race rears its ugly head, be assured that I will take swift action to ensure they are not apart of this organization,” Mata declared. “I am very proud of the 99.9% of officers whose accomplishments and dedication to this community exceed all expectations and I will not let the conduct of a few officers cloud the outstanding work that is being done in our city every day.”
A person in authority abusing their position is the sickest thing, according to Mayor Matt Mahan’s statement. Since this person is no longer carrying a badge or a pistol, I will be able to sleep better tonight.
It wasn’t immediately apparent if McNamara had legal representation. It took some time for us to locate McNamara’s contact details on a public database.
Steve Slack, president of the San Jose Police Officers’ Association, described the reported behavior as “beyond unacceptable” and stated in a statement on Saturday that “we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
“This occurrence is a reflection of one person’s conduct. As said in the statement, “It is not a reflection on those of us who work with honor and who accord every member of our community the respect and dignity they deserve.” “This person must face the harshest consequences possible if these allegations are true.”
The association no longer represents McNamara.
As a result of leaving the force, “he forfeits his membership in the union,” according to organization spokesman Tom Saggau.