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Update: Santa Clara chief responds to POA statment regarding Kaepernick

Published  September 3, 2016 1:54pm PDT
News
KTVU FOX 2
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KTVU) - Santa Clara police chief Michael Sellars has responded to the Santa Clara Police Officers Association's letter to the 49ers organization regarding Colin Kaepernick's recent statement.s

In his statement Sellars said, "The safety of our community is our highest priority. I will urge the POA leadership to put the safety of our citizens first. I will work with both sides to find a solution. In the meantime, I will ensure we continue to provide a safe environemt at Levi's Stadium."

Santa Clara Police Officers Association issued a letter dated this Friday to the San Francisco 49ers following what they are calling Colin Kaepernick’s “inflammatory statements”.

The letter, addressed to the team CEO Jed York, says the quarterback, recently surrounded by controversy over his protesting of the national anthem at NFL games and his choice to wear socks that depict cops as pigs, “insulted all law enforcement officers”.

They went as far as to say that Kaepernick’s actions could result in police officers not working at 49ers facilities and are demanding that the team take action. 

The letter from the SCPOA Board of Directors in part says, " Our membership acknowledges that police officers are human and are not perfect. However, blanket statements that police officers in general murder minorities is completely false and insulting to the dedicated men and women in law enforcement agencies across America."

It continues, "The 49ers organization has taken no action to stop or prevent Mr. Kaepernick from continuing to make inaccurate, incorrect and inflammatory statements against police officers..." 

The letter accuses the 49ers organization of not disagreeing with Kaepernick's accusations and calls his behavior "inappropriate" for the workplace. 

The letter concludes, "Our members, however, have the right to do their job in an environment free of unjustified and insulting attacks from employees of your organization."