San Francisco Sheriff’s Chief of Staff Richard Jue attempted to cover up a hit-and-run accident by falsely claiming to be a victim himself before finally admitting he destroyed a parked Tesla with his government vehicle and fled the scene.
Key Takeaways
- Richard Jue, Chief of Staff for the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office, crashed a department vehicle into a parked Tesla, totaling it, and fled the scene without reporting it
- When Jue finally reported the incident two weeks later, he falsely claimed to be the victim of a hit-and-run before admitting the truth
- Despite holding a civilian position, Jue was granted privileges including a uniform, badge, gun, and city vehicle that caused resentment among department personnel
- Jue has been placed on leave and faces misdemeanor charges for hit-and-run and filing a false police report
- The incident follows a trend of law enforcement accountability issues in San Francisco
High-Ranking Law Enforcement Official Faces Criminal Charges
In a troubling display of misconduct from a top law enforcement official, Richard Jue, Chief of Staff for the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office, has been charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run and filing a false police report. The charges stem from a March 4 incident where Jue, while off duty, crashed his Sheriff’s Department vehicle into a parked Tesla on Diamond Heights Boulevard, “causing serious damages to both vehicles,” according to District Attorney Brooke Jenkins’ office.
Instead of taking responsibility at the scene, Jue immediately fled without leaving any contact information for the Tesla owner. Even more concerning, Jue didn’t report the crash for two full weeks. When he finally did file a report, he attempted to cover his tracks with a blatant lie. “When he reported it, he claimed that he had been the victim of an unknown hit-and-run in a parking lot,” the prosecutor’s office stated.
The next day, apparently recognizing the futility of his deception, Jue filed a second report admitting responsibility for the crash and acknowledging he had left the scene without leaving a note.
Privileged Position Raises Questions About Department Practices
Jue’s role within the Sheriff’s Office has come under scrutiny following the incident. Despite holding what is technically a civilian position as Chief of Staff, Jue received privileges that many found questionable. According to department sources, Jue wore a uniform, badge, and gun, and was issued a city vehicle due to his “Peace Officer Status.”
These special accommodations reportedly caused resentment among others within the department who questioned the appropriateness of granting such privileges to someone in an administrative role.
“The sheriff’s office holds all members — regardless of rank or role — to the highest ethical and professional standards,” Sheriff Paul Miyamoto stated following Jue’s arrest.
Jue has been placed on administrative leave pending both a criminal case and an internal administrative investigation. The Sheriff’s Office conducted its own investigation before presenting the case to the District Attorney’s Office, which ultimately led to the criminal charges. Jue was arrested on June 22 and subsequently released on a $7,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment later this week.
Pattern of Law Enforcement Misconduct in Liberal San Francisco
This incident is particularly troubling given Jue’s extensive law enforcement background. Before becoming Chief of Staff to Sheriff Miyamoto, Jue served three decades with the San Francisco Police Department and is a former president of the San Francisco Asian Peace Officers Association. His arrest follows another recent incident involving a rookie SFPD officer who was arrested for a DUI crash, highlighting a pattern of accountability issues within San Francisco’s law enforcement agencies.
“Jue allegedly waited weeks to even report the crash, and when he did, he lied, said authorities.
The charges against Jue were officially announced by the city’s attorney general on June 23, just one day after his arrest. The case raises serious questions about accountability within San Francisco’s law enforcement leadership at a time when public trust in such institutions is already strained. For a city that has been plagued by rampant crime, homelessness, and drug use under progressive policies, the behavior of those tasked with upholding the law becomes even more critical to maintaining what little public confidence remains in the system.
