The San Francisco Police Department is barred from sharing the mug shot of the suspect who viciously stabbed a pedestrian in a terrifying, unprovoked attack because of a woke policy enacted in 2020 — which is being ripped by frightened residents.
The unhinged knifeman was caught on camera creeping up behind the unsuspecting man in Chinatown and stabbing him in the back — but San Franciscans are being prohibited from seeing the attacker’s face following his arrest.
The SFPD implemented a strict policy in July 2020 that banned the release of most booking photos to avoid perpetuating racial stereotypes.
“This policy emerges from compelling research suggesting that the widespread publication of police booking photos in the news and on social media creates an illusory correlation for viewers that fosters racial bias and vastly overstates the propensity of black and brown men to engage in criminal behavior,” the San Francisco Chief of Police at the time, William Scott, said in a statement announcing the policy.
The policy allows mug shots to be released to the media only when deemed “necessary to warn the public of imminent danger or to enlist the public’s assistance in locating individuals, including at-risk persons.”
Critics who believe they have a right to see what the suspect looks like ripped the policy on social media — saying it unfairly protects suspected criminals over the public.
“Chinatown, San Fran: Man stabbed in the back while waiting to cross the street. SFPD has suspect in custody, but zero info released, no mugshot. Gotta protect the attacker from ‘discrimination.’ Priorities straight: shield the criminal, let the public stay blind,” one detractor raged on X.
Another echoed the anger, posting, “A pedestrian waiting to cross is stabbed from behind. Police say a suspect is detained — but no name, no photo released. Criminal privacy comes first while the public stays in the dark.”
“We are not allowed to see the faces of men who go around stabbing people at random,” a third person crowed.
Others argued that protecting suspects accused of violent crimes “only encourages further criminal behavior” and that the policy itself is prejudiced.
“I don’t get it. These people say ‘releasing mug shots is racist,’ why would that be the case? We should not be judging people based on the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” the confused commentator insisted.
The shocking surveillance footage of the daylight attack shows the stunned pedestrian clutching his back and staggering before he collapses onto the pavement.
When officers arrived, they found the victim suffering from a stab wound and he was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Investigators later located a suspect matching the description provided by witnesses near the 600 block of Powell Street, where he was detained without incident and taken into custody, according to KRON4.
The Post reached out to the San Francisco Police Department for comment, but they said there are “no updates to give at this time.”
Meanwhile, the public remains in the dark.
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