Racist, homophobic texts emerge in SFPD scandal

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- New homophobic and racist text messages allegedly sent by a former San Francisco police officer are coming to light. The text messages are at the center of an ongoing scandal for the SFPD.

They were released by Public Defender Jeff Adachi.

The text messages seized from officer Jason Lai's personal cellphone are considered offensive. They disparage African-Americans, Indian immigrants, Hispanics and others.

One exchange referencing African Americans says, "they're like a pack (of) wild animals on the loose." Another disparages Indians: "Indian people are disgusting." And another text puts down the homeless saying, "burn down Walgreens and kill the bums."

The numeric code 528, used for a fire, are apparently used to refer to gay officers.

RELATED: Feds reviewing complaints of SF police racism bias

"This is a person who's fully committed to expressing his bias to his friends and fellow police officers," said Adachi.

Lai, and two other officers implicated in this latest texting scandal, quit the force. A fourth is fighting termination.

This latest texting scandal comes on the heels of another revealed last year following an unrelated federal corruption trial.

Fourteen officers were caught exchanging offensive texts, mostly with former Sgt. Ian Furminger, who was convicted on the corruption charges.

The messages were discovered as part of an SFPD probe into a sexual assault allegation against Lai made by a woman last year.

Adachi says all this shows more needs to be done to root out bias in the department.

"There has to be consequences for officers who do not come forward and fail to report this kind of conduct. That's the only way," he said.

RELATED: SFPD faces widening scandal over racist, homophobic text messages

Adachi also says all officers need to go through "implicit bias training." In response, Police Chief Greg Suhr says command level officers have already gone through the program.

"My goal is to have the entire police department trained once by the end of the year," said Suhr.

And Suhr re-iterated a warning.

"There is no room in the San Francisco Police Department for anyone who holds this type of hateful and discriminatory views," he said.

Adachi's office is reviewing 207 criminal cases in which Lai and the other two officers were involved, to see if they should be dismissed for possible bias.

CNN exclusively obtained a list of dozens of offensive texts allegedly sent to and from Officer Jason Lai in 2014 and 2015.

RELATED: SF judge: 7 SFPD officers can't be punished for racist text messages