Freelance journalist Bryan Carmody, left, is seen with his attorney, Thomas Burke, at a panel event held by the Society of Professional Journalists in San Francisco on August 13, 2019. Police raided Carmody's home and office in May while investigating the leak of a report on the death of a San Francisco public defender. (AP/Juliet Williams)
Freelance journalist Bryan Carmody, left, is seen with his attorney, Thomas Burke, at a panel event held by the Society of Professional Journalists in San Francisco on August 13, 2019. Police raided Carmody's home and office in May while investigating the leak of a report on the death of a San Francisco public defender. (AP/Juliet Williams)

FAC, CPJ ask San Francisco mayor to protect journalist freedoms

The Committee to Protect Journalists and the free speech non-profit First Amendment Coalition today sent a letter to San Francisco Mayor London Breed requesting a meeting about steps the city can take to ensure press freedom.

The letter asked Breed to address the police’s use of five warrants to search the home, office and electronics of freelance journalist Bryan Carmody as part of an investigation into how the reporter obtained a confidential police report. Noting that in May the mayor said that the city should adopt a protocol for investigations involving the media, the letter made recommendations. These included that the city make public any investigation into the raid on Carmody and increase training for officers on the First Amendment.

Read the full letter here: