California Mayor resigns via email about police killings

TEMECULA, Calif. (AP) — The mayor of a Southern California city resigned following an email in which he stated he didn’t “believe there’s ever been a good person of color killed by a police officer" locally.

Temecula Mayor James Stewart had apologized Thursday for the email, saying he never meant to use the word “good.” He had said he is dyslexic and so used voice text to send his late-night Tuesday message but failed to notice the added word.

“Unfortunately I did not take the time to proofread what was recorded. I absolutely did not say that," Stewart told the Riverside Press-Enterprise on Thursday. “What I said is and I don’t believe there has ever been a person of color murdered by police, on context to Temecula or Riverside County. I absolutely did not say ‘good.' I have no idea how that popped up.”

Stewart said he was replying to someone “concerned about our police officers and their sensitivity training.”

The city issued a press release late Thursday announcing that Stewart, who was elected to a four-year term in 2016, was stepping down from his post and the city council, news outlets reported.

"You have every right to be hurt and offended. My typographical errors and unexpected email response on a serious topic added pain at a time when our community and our country are suffering, "Stewart said in a statement. "I may not be the best writer and sometimes I speak badly, but I'm not a racist."

He said he was resigning because he understood that "his most sincere apologies cannot remedy this situation."

The initial email came when California cities were scenes of major protests about the death of George Floyd, a black man who died last week after a white Minneapolis police officer put a knee to his neck. Four police officers have been charged with his death.

Temecula, a city of about 115,000 residents southeast of Los Angeles, was one of the places where the protests took place. African Americans make up about 5% of the city's population, while Riverside County is about 7% black, according to US Census figures. USA

However, black people represent nearly 18% of people who died in police custody in Riverside County between 2010 and 2018, the Press-Enterprise reported, citing a database from the state Department of Justice.

Riverside County was also the site of the 1998 death of Tyisha Miller, who was killed by Riverside police when she was sitting in a car with a gun in her lap. Family members had called the police because he appeared to be unconscious and in need of medical attention. Police said he appeared to be sitting down and taking the gun when they entered the car.

The shooting sparked protests and four officers were fired.

Stewart said he did not recall the shooting when he was composing his email message, which also said "racism is neither excepted nor tolerated" in or around the city.

"I have several good friends who are African American, and they love living here because it is safe for them and their families," the email said.