Our E-Mail to SDPD About the Crash that Killed Walter Freeman

It has been more than a month since a marked SDPD cruiser struck and killed avid bicyclist Walter Freeman in University City. No information has been forthcoming from the SDPD regarding the results of their investigation, which they initially promised would be completed and released within a week of the incident. Below is the e-mail we sent to Chief William Lansdowne this morning, reminding the SDPD of their obligation to the citizens of San Diego to provide a full and public investigation of this deadly incident involving one of our public safety officers:

Dear Chief Lansdowne,

I am writing both as a concerned citizen and as the editor of Bike San Diego, a news and advocacy blog highlighting bicycling issues in the city and county of San Diego. The concern I would like to bring to your attention today is the lack of information coming from the SDPD regarding the investigation into the crash that killed bicyclist Walter Freeman on November 9, 2009. As you know, one of your officers was driving the marked patrol car that struck and killed Freeman. It has been more than one month since the crash, and your department promised information within a week of the incident. That information has not been forthcoming, and I would like to remind you of your obligation to the citizens of this city to provide them with information about public safety. This includes disclosing the details and results of this investigation, at the very least so that concrete steps can be taken to make this intersection a safer place to ride a bicycle. Naturally, I and other bicyclists in San Diego are very interested to hear the results of your department’s investigation.

Respectfully, Thomas Bahde

Naturally, we will also post the SDPD’s response, if any, and as soon as we have details of the investigation, we will share them with you.