A 49ers-paid San Jose police officer who responded to a personal phone call from Ray McDonald the night the Niners defensive lineman was arrested for domestic violence charges was on duty at the time and attended a birthday party at the home earlier in the evening, according to a report.
McDonald was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 31, on suspicion of domestic violence. The 49ers have allowed him to play in games while the legal situation unfolds. Maybe the 49ers can afford to rest on the explanation that they are waiting for the legal process to play out because they know McDonald is receiving special treatment.
ABC 7 in the Bay Area reported last week that McDonald called a San Jose police officer “either before, or about the time” the 911 call was made. The officer has been identified as Sean Pritchard, who also works as a team-paid security officer at games.
The San Jose Mercury News reported on Friday that Pritchard was in uniform and on duty when he went to the home in response to a private call from McDonald. They also say Pritchard was at the home earlier in the evening for a birthday party.
Pritchard’s relationship with McDonald and the 49ers complicates the legal process because it gives off the obvious appearance that the police are chummy with the team and its players, making it seem like the players would receive favorable treatment. The Mercury News says the police department has suspended all off-duty work with the team and there is an Internal Affairs probe.
Pritchard’s involvement also “stalled the investigation,” according to the Mercury News.
Sources say Pritchard’s presence also stalled the investigation into the domestic-violence incident, where police said McDonald’s fiancee showed “visible injuries,” and was a factor in the case taking a month to be presented to the District Attorney’s Office. No charges have been filed and the case remains under review.
Do we need to spell out how inappropriate this sort of conduct is? Pritchard and all police officers are paid by the collective tax payers to protect and serve the people and community, not to get chummy with athletes and interfere with potential serious crimes committed by players.
Unfortunately, as San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami says, the relationship between the Niners and local police is pretty solid.
Am I suggesting that SJPD and the Santa Clara County sheriffs often work very, very closely with the 49ers? Yes, I am suggesting that.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) September 2, 2014
H/T Deadspin
