Transcript of Taped Remarks

The following is a complete transcript of Chief Kolender’s taped message to police officers:

I felt that I owe each and every one of you an explanation for the articles in the paper concerning my statements to the editorial boards of the San Diego Union and Evening Tribune.

You’d think after 11 years that I probably would’ve known better, but obviously I didn’t. It was my assumption that the meeting I was having with them was off the record. I found out later that it was not off the record.

It was my fault. I should’ve asked. I made an assumption. It was wrong.

But I want you to know what I was attempting to do. I believe that DJ (Donovan Jacobs) handled the incident in Southeast San Diego to the best of his ability. I believe that he was traumatized. When I said that he unintentionally lied, in his mind he was telling the truth--that he believes what happened, even though we know the facts do not substantiate what Donovan feels.

He was run over by a car. He was shot. He was hit in the head. And I believe that that trauma to him affected the role in which he saw the incident.

I again reiterate. I believe that in his mind he was telling the truth. I wanted you to know that. I wanted the editorial boards of Union and Evening Tribune to know that. I’m sorry that I didn’t say it as articulately as I should. I explained this to Donovan, and I also gave him my apology.

I feel that that young man has been through enough.