Officers threaten to boycott 49ers games, chief vows safety
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara police chief has vowed to continue providing a safe environment at San Francisco home games after the union representing his officers threatened to boycott policing the stadium if the 49ers don’t discipline Colin Kaepernick for criticizing police and refusing to stand during the national anthem.
Chief Michael Sellers said in a statement Saturday that he will urge union leadership to put citizens’ safety first.
Kaepernick’s “blanket statements disparaging the law enforcement profession are hurtful and do not help bring the country together,” Sellers said. “As distasteful as his actions are, these actions are protected by the Constitution. Police officers are here to protect the rights of every person, even if we disagree with their position.”
In a letter sent to the 49ers, the police union complained that Kaepernick’s “inappropriate behaviour” has “threatened our harmonious working relationship.”