S-F Mayor Walks Back Support Of Cop Raid On Journalist

KCBS 106.9 FM / 740 AM is reporting San Francisco Mayor London Breed has shifted her stance about the police department's search of Bryan Carmody's files, computer and other property to find out how he obtained a report detailing the death of the city's public defender, Jeff Adachi. District Attorney George Gascon weighed in Monday with comments that put him at odds with the police, a department he formerly led.

The sealed police report that Carmody obtained and sold to three Bay Area television stations revealed that Adachi used cocaine, marijuana and alcohol while with a woman who was not his wife on the day he died.

During the search of Carmody's home, police drew their guns, used a sledgehammer on his door and confiscated files and electronic devices. Breed has backpedaled on her initial support of the search.

"The more we learn, the less appropriate it looks to me," Breed tweeted Sunday, one of several messages about the case.

A free and independent press plays a crucial role in our society, and we have to work harder to honor not only the letter of California’s Shield Law, but also the spirit of it.

— London Breed (@LondonBreed) May 19, 2019

And the more we learn, the less appropriate it looks to me.

While the legal process in this case will play out in our courts, we need a protocol going forward for how to handle investigations that involve members of the media.

— London Breed (@LondonBreed) May 19, 2019

Earlier, Breed had agreed with the judges' decisions to issue the search warrants.

"Our role is to follow the law, and the judges ultimately make the decisions," said Breed. "They made the decision. And so at this point, you know, I support their decision."

Meanwhile, The Associated Press is reporting Carmody is seeking the return of property after police raided his home with a sledgehammer, as officials sought to determine the source of a leaked police report into the death of the city's public defender.

An attorney for freelancer Bryan Carmody will make the request Tuesday in San Francisco County Superior Court, arguing that "the free flow of information to the public is jeopardized" when government interferes with independent newsgathering.