By: (AP) The San Francisco Chronicle misidentified a large photograph used in a story about a police officer with an extensive history of violence, the newspaper admitted Monday.
The article, published Sunday, identified the man pictured as Sgt. John Haggett, a 23-year veteran of the force who was suspended three times for using unnecessary force and has been the subject of dozens of citizen complaints. The story was part of an ongoing series examining the police department's use-of-force policy.
The newspaper acknowledged Monday that the man in the photograph was not Haggett.
The man is a San Francisco cab driver, and he stepped forward today. Jack Neeley Jr., 42, said on Tuesday he worries that people with a grudge against police officers would become violent with him as a result of the article mishap.
"When I come out of the house, I kind of scan the area, making sure no one is looking out," Neeley said at a news conference. "It's kind of changed the way I walk out of the house."
The Chronicle said in statement, "The person in the photograph has never been a member of the San Francisco Police Department and is in no way connected to the use of force series. The Chronicle regrets the error."
Police Chief Heather Fong, meanwhile, pointed to the error in questioning the overall accuracy of the story.
"If this photo is inaccurate, I have serious concerns about the analysis of all of the other data that they have obtained," she said in a Monday news conference.
The series reports that the department has a core group of violence-prone officers -- fewer than 100 in a force of 2,200 -- accountable for 25% of the use-of-force incidents logged between 1996 and 2004.
Fong said the Chronicle series was "irresponsible" and gave an incomplete portrayal of the department. She also mentioned other inaccuracies but did not give specifics.
The Chronicle said it stood by the accuracy of the articles.
"The photo error, while serious, does not change the basic issues raised by the series about the Department's lack of a reliable system for tracking use of force, and its failure to hold accountable officers who repeatedly resort to use of force," its statement said.
Chronicle spokeswoman Patty Hoyt added that newspaper officials met with the man in the photograph Monday afternoon.
"We have certainly apologized for the error," said Hoyt, who declined to comment on whether the man planned to take legal action against the paper.
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