S.F. cop accused of cover-up suspended

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A San Francisco police officer accused of instructing a rookie officer to lie to cover up a suspect's escape was spared from dismissal by the Police Commission, which instead imposed a nine-month suspension stemming from the 2003 incident, The Chronicle has learned.

Lionel Sevilla's case - which had come to symbolize the problems in the department's disciplinary system - had languished for more than five years at the commission before it was resolved in a closed-door hearing that concluded Wednesday.

The 19-year veteran officer must serve the suspension immediately. He will then go on a list of officers whose credibility has been called into question and whose histories must be disclosed to defense attorneys when they testify in court.

And why must such histories be disclosed in court?

The department is in the midst of reviewing its rank and file to identify officers with misconduct records and to comply with the Brady vs. Maryland decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that compels prosecutors to turn over to the defense anything that could be used to attack the credibility of witnesses.

More information: "S.F. cops' pasts could jeopardize convictions" (May 4)

Background in the case:

Sevilla, now 51, is a 19-year veteran who was working as a training officer at Mission Station on Aug. 6, 2003, when he and the rookie officer got a call about a fight inside a business at 17th and Noe streets.

A suspect the officers detained at the scene on a warrant asked to use the restroom, so Sevilla allegedly removed his handcuffs so that he could use a restaurant toilet. He promptly fled out the back.

A subsequent investigation concluded that Sevilla told the rookie officer they could cover up the escape.

Full story: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/01/BATC1FMD40.DTL