A recent viral video involving an officer of the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) punching a suspect has intensified debates over the use of force and elicited varying responses from the police chief, the police union, and community leaders. The cell phone recording shows the officer striking a man during an arrest linked to a domestic violence call on Jan. 10, according to a report by FOX5 San Diego.
Chief Scott Wahl, who spoke on KOGO Radio, remarked that while the officer told the suspect not to interlace his fingers, alternatives to the use of force should have been considered. This stance drew criticism from the San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA), which cautioned against premature judgments of the incident. In the statement obtained by the official SDPD website, Wahl expressed disappointment in the new union president for misrepresenting his comments, emphasizing the need for unity in the department’s mission.
On the community side, Ada Rodriguez, chair of the city’s Commission on Police Practices, supported Wahl’s approach, highlighting the importance of transparency in building trust. Rodriguez was quoted by FOX5 San Diego, questioning the assumption that every use of force by an officer is justified. Meanwhile, criminal defense attorney Gretchen Von Helms suggested the episode might lead not only to a civil lawsuit but potentially to the end of the involved officer’s career…