Disgraced ex-cop and all-around bad guy Anthony Arevalos said during a deposition that every police chief he worked for at the San Diego Police Department over the last 20 years told him to look the other way when it came to handing out tickets to other police officers, lawyers who work for the city and San Diego Chargers players.
No tickets for San Diego Chargers players? Allow me to explain why this news is both surprising and not surprising.
First, as Liam Dillion points out, former San Diego Chargers OLB Antwan Applewhite was cited for a DUI in 2011. Former Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson was arrested twice during the the playoffs, once for a DUI and once for driving with a suspended license while driving to the game. Chargers OLB Thomas Keiser was arrested just a few months ago following a fight outside of a downtown bar. If there is indeed a directive to not ticket Chargers players, it would appear that not every cop follows it, or that it mostly pertains to minor violations.
Second, of course the SDPD gives preferential treatment to the Chargers! I would wager that every major city in the country has seen countless instances of cops looking the other way on speeding tickets once they find out the guy driving the car is a pitcher for the local baseball team or a receiver for the local favorite football team. Whether they are directed to look the other way, most cops will when it comes to minor offenses for a few reasons:
• NFL players are looked at like heroes by fans. Could you give your hero a ticket for speeding?
• The team regularly works with SDPD, and offers special discounts on tickets to first responders, including police officers.
This is simply business. It makes more sense to let small traffic violations go for those who could potentially help the SDPD in the future. Heck, if the job of police chief can (allegedly) be bought, why couldn’t someone of wealth and fame get out of a ticket?
You’re reading the Sports Report, our weekly compilation of news and information for the San Diego sports fan.
Bring Back the Brown
The argument between Padres fans and team owners over the team’s colors is an old one, but that’s only because nobody is listening.
Three different groups have taken turns running the franchise over the last several years, but the team’s stance has remained the same. They’re dedicated to the current blue-and-white color scheme.
That much is fine. They’re allowed to do that. Their justification, though, is frustrating. Lately they’ve been talking about how the colors are tied up in the team’s “brand” and its “history” — but the brand lately is a losing one, and to make the history argument you have to go back to a minor league team from 50 years ago, and even then only half the colors are the same.
Stories You May Have Missed
• The Chargers signed first-round pick Jason Verrett to a four-year deal, locking up their entire draft class with two months to spare before training camp.
• Former Chargers QB Charlie Whitehurst is now in Tennessee, and he tried to earn his usual No. 6 away from Titans punter Brett Kern in an arm-wrestling match. Whitehurst will wear No. 12 for the Titans.
• The trust that owns the Los Angeles Clippers has agreed in principle to sell the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. We may not have heard the last of the drama between Donald Sterling and the NBA, though.
• Adorable Child of the Week: Pitbull’s special NBA Playoffs version of his hit song “Timber” is mostly the same as the original, but with Pitbull repeatedly saying the word “Playoffs.” That’s why it needed the “Maggie Remix”…
(Want to recommend this sports newsletter to someone? Share this sign-up link.)
I’m John Gennaro, contributor to Active Voice and managing editor of Bolts from the Blue. You can tweet me @john_gennaro or e-mail me directly at boltsfromtheblue@gmail.com.