The San Jose Police Department is looking at changing its policy about officers’ off-duty work after officers responding to the domestic violence call at 49ers star Ray McDonald's house arrived to find one of their own already there.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, Sgt. Sean Pritchard, an SJPD veteran assigned to the gang-suppression unit and a member of the 49ers security detail, has been barred from any further work for the team pending an Internal Affairs inquiry into why he was present for the Aug. 31 police response that ended with McDonald's arrest.
Nearly two dozen San Jose officers work as part of the 49ers security in addition to their regular shifts. The work includes everything from working at games to guarding players and others.
“Pritchard's presence at McDonald's house complicated the police investigation into the domestic violence call, and it was one reason it took a month to forward the case to District Attorney Jeff Rosen's office,” the Merc reported. “It also raised questions about whether the department can fairly investigate 49ers players when some of its officers work for the team.”
A department spokesman told the paper that pending the review, “there may come a time when we don't allow officers to work for the 49ers organization.”