San Francisco Sheriff Moves to Fire Deputy Accused of Staging “Gladiator Fights”

Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi is seeking to fire a deputy accused of forcing jail inmates to fight for food.

The San Francisco sheriff's office says he started termination proceedings this week against the deputy sheriff accused of forcing two inmates to hit each other so he and others could bet on the outcomes.

According to an investigation by the San Francisco Public Defender's office inmates were promised hamburgers if they won, and threatened with Mace and beatings if they refused to fight.

Mirkarimi's office conducted its own review and found enough evidence to start the termination process against the alleged ringleader. The office is still investigating the level of involvement by three other deputy sheriffs.

Mirkarimi has also announced a pilot program for jailers to wear body cameras in order to prevent this kind of abuse.