Hashtag of the Year? #LibbyLeaks
December 2016
How did Oakland City Hall respond to Darwin BondGraham and Ali Winston's damning investigation of sexual misconduct by Oakland Police Department officers? They went after those who leaked critical information these reporters.
It's true: The #LibbyLeaks campaign to ferret out insiders dishing to reporters was a disconcerting reaction to unprecedented OPD corruption. As the California Newspaper Association's executive director told KQED about this hunt for alleged leakers, "Targeting whistleblowers is the worst possible tactic."
City Hall officials justified #LibbyLeaks by saying that those giving info to journalists were jeopardizing the District Attorney's legal cases against the cops who exploited "Celeste Guap." But that reasoning doesn't hold water: If not for BondGraham and Winston's investigative reporting, bad cops never would have been held accountable.
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/grinches-of-the-year-oakland-and-east-bay-residents-with-hearts-a-few-sizes-too-small/Content?oid=5064007&storyPage=3
June 2016
#LibbyLeaks: Oakland Mayor Launches Investigation Against City and Police Whistleblowers
Critic calls it a 'ridiculous waste of time and resources.'
And now the Express has learned that Schaaf and City Administrator Sabrina Landreth have opened an investigation to identify internal whistleblowers and leaks, according to multiple city and police sources, who asked not to be identified because they fear retaliation.
The investigation started after recent news reports exposed details regarding multiple police-misconduct cases, as well as efforts by city and police officials to keep the misconduct hidden from the public.
Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan confirmed to the Express that she has heard there is a leak investigation. “I don’t know the details, but I think all allegations should be equally investigated.” Kaplan said. “I don’t have problem with leaks being investigated, but my question would be, 'Are all allegations being equally investigated?'”
Word of the leak investigation has already spread beyond the city of Oakland.
“I've learned that there is an effort to research leaks in the [police] department, which I think is a ridiculous waste of time and resources,” said John Burris, one of the civil rights attorneys who sued the city and put the Oakland police under federal court oversight in 2003.
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/libby-leaks-oakland-mayor-launches-investigation-against-city-and-police-whistleblowers/Content?oid=4849906
