Posts
In a recent department-wide memo, San
Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr wrote, “Members are reminded not to confiscate
unopened condoms.”
Referring to the city’s
harm-reduction policy and strategy regarding HIV and STDs, Suhr said, “Members
may photograph or otherwise document possession of unopened condoms, money, and
related paraphernalia when establishing probable cause for ‘loitering for the
purpose of prostitution.” The chief said SFPD members should not confuse this
order with previous guidance about the preservation of used condoms at crime
scenes.
The document was made available on
July 13th; more than three weeks after the Bay Area Reporter published an
article in which two department officials from the same unit gave conflicting
answers as to whether police were seizing condoms as evidence of sex work.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
