In the rumor mill that is the SFPD, sometimes a story can grow to epic proportions. At least, that’s how Assistant Chief Jeff Godown sees it when it comes to a tale about a cop and a cup of coffee.
A story has been buzzing about how Godown, a transplant from the LAPD, berated a San Francisco cop in front of City Hall for sipping a cup of Joe while in uniform, as if that were against department regulations.
The story goes that a a bicycle cop was riding in Civic Center Plaza two weeks ago with one hand on the handlebars and another gripping a cup of Starbucks. That beat officer saw one of his colleagues in a marked police SUV and decided to ride over to say hi.
After meandering over to the truck one handed, the beat cop got a nice surprise. Godown was sitting next to his buddy and he proceeded to tell the cop to clean up his act.
Godown says he has no problem with police drinking java, just not out in front of City Hall where tourists are taking pictures and every political official in The City is milling about.
“There’s no law that a cop can’t drink coffee,” Godown said. “But I’m demanding that everyone look professional.”
