The San Francisco Fire Department is launching an internal investigation into one of its own after social media posts that appeared to cheer on a recent ICE operation surfaced, then vanished. The posts, which reportedly included a GIF playing off the line “gotta catch ’em all” and a pointed comment about deportations, were later deleted, but not before catching the attention of reporters and community advocates. Department officials say the conduct is now under formal review.
What the posts said
As reported by Mission Local, the firefighter was identified as Lt. David Waters. He is said to have reacted to an SFGate Instagram post with a GIF reading “gotta catch ’em all!” and later wrote, “how am i racist for wanting illegals deported?”. According to Mission Local, the account and several posts were deleted hours after reporters requested a comment from the department.
Payroll and public record
Public salary records list a David Waters as a lieutenant in the San Francisco Fire Department, with total 2023 pay and benefits of about $268,368.35. According to Transparent California, that figure appears in the city’s 2023 payroll data.
Context: the West Oakland ICE operation
The posts appeared to reference a high-profile federal immigration operation in West Oakland in mid-November that residents and elected officials described as chaotic. The action resulted in a car crash that totaled a pregnant woman’s parked vehicle. Local outlets covered both the operation and the neighborhood blowback, including reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle and KTVU.
Department response and next steps
In a statement to Mission Local, SFFD spokesperson Lt. Mariano Elias said the department is aware of the comments and “is taking the matter seriously" and will investigate. The department has not released a timeline for the review or said whether any disciplinary steps are expected.
