The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office has penned an open letter to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to train with the department.
Kaepernick has gained national attention after he sat during the national anthem Friday night before a preseason, stating he was doing it to protest police brutality and that he refused to "stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppressed black people and people of color."
The NFL player went on to say that "To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
Below is the letter posted on the Sheriff's Office Facebook page:
To: Colin Kaepernick
From: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
Open Invitation to Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Center.
During a post-game interview on August 28, 2016, you stated the following: “You can become a cop in six months, and don’t have to have the same amount of training as a cosmetologist, that’s insane. “
We would like to cordially invite you to the Alameda County Regional Training Center (RTC) in Dublin, CA. The RTC is currently in session hosting our 156th and 157th basic police academies. In addition to the academy, we train thousands of law enforcement officers from throughout the state and country in all aspects of our profession, including use of force. We have a specially designed Use of Force simulator that puts officers in situations where they must make split second decisions on what actions to take. In addition, we invite you to meet with our current academies and veteran officers to talk to them about their experiences and yours.
We hope that you will take this opportunity to meet with a new generation of law enforcement officers and have an open dialogue.
Sincerely,
The Deputies of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
