Nov 20, 2008 11:52 pm US/Pacific
Palo Alto Police Chief Retires Amid Racial Flap
PALO ALTO (CBS 5 / AP / BCN) ―
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Palo Alto Police Chief Lynne Johnson.
CBS
Palo Alto's police chief announced her retirement Thursday after she sparked anger when she said she had ordered officers to stop African Americans following a rash of robberies.
"After considerable thought, I have decided to retire (next month) from the Police Department after nearly 34 years of service," Chief Lynne Johnson said.
Johnson cited, in part, the strain from the backlash to her comments at an Oct. 30 public meeting, but maintained in an interview with CBS 5 that she was not forced out.
"This was my decision," she said.
Johnson has repeatedly said she misspoke and apologized for the remarks, which led to calls for her resignation.
The chief said she had asked officers for "consensual contact" with black men seen in locations where robberies had occurred — a statement some described as racial profiling.
She later clarified that what she had meant to say was that officers should contact those acting suspiciously in the area of the robberies, and who match the suspect description of the robbers.
Rev. Jeff Moore II, president of the San Jose-Silicon Valley NAACP, said city officials still need to ensure that the department's officers receive cultural diversity training, adding that Johnson "wasn't the one driving around stopping people."
City officials, who also insisted they did not force Johnson out, said efforts to fight racial profiling would continue.
Johnson's last day as police chief will be Dec. 19, according to the city. Assistant Chief Dennis Burns was appointed to be the acting police chief after Johnson's departure.
meantime, the outgoing chief enumerated various accomplishments during her tenure, including the hiring of 32 officers, the promotion of command staff and other department employees, and the implementation of new technology, including Tasers mounted with video cameras.
"I've been extremely proud to be not only a member of the Department but also the leader of such a professional group of men and women for over the last five years," Johnson said.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press and Bay City News contributed to this report.)
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