Mark McNamara, a former San Jose police officer, has resigned from the police department following the discovery of racist text messages during an investigation. The San Jose Police Department revealed that McNamara, who had served for six years, stepped down after being informed about the ongoing probe into the offensive messages.
In addition to the racist texts, McNamara was also involved in the shooting of K’aun Green, a Black man, in March 2022. The incident occurred when Green intervened in a fight near San Jose State University. Subsequently, Green filed a federal lawsuit against the city of San Jose and the police department in April 2022.
The revelation of McNamara’s racist messages came to light as the police conducted an internal investigation into an unrelated criminal matter. San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata condemned McNamara’s views, describing them as “disgusting and horrible” and reflective of racial bias.
The police department released 10 pages of text messages recovered from McNamara, which included derogatory comments about Green. In one message, McNamara referred to Green as a “N—-” and expressed his disdain for Green carrying a gun. Another message suggested that McNamara had dismissed the significance of Green’s lawsuit, stating that the outcome would not affect him as a white officer.
Angel Alexander, Green’s attorney, expressed shock and anger upon learning about the racist texts. Alexander highlighted one message in which McNamara explicitly stated, “I hate black people.” The revelation of these messages provided undeniable evidence of McNamara’s racist beliefs.
Chief Mata disclosed that another police department employee, who remained unnamed, had received some of McNamara’s offensive messages and engaged in concerning dialogue with him. This second employee has been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.
The incident involving McNamara underscores the importance of addressing racism within law enforcement and the need for strict measures to prevent such behavior. The San Jose Police Department has taken steps to hold accountable those involved in this incident and to restore trust and confidence within the community.
