San Francisco police corruption investigation uncovers racism,

FILE - In this Feb. 27, 2014 file photo, San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr speaks during a news conference at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco. The original charges were shocking enough: six San Francisco police officers were accused of stealing from suspects living in seedy residential hotels. Then federal prosecutors released racist, homophobic and ethnically insensitive email and text messages exchanged among more than a dozen officers, prompting the San Francisco district attorney to launch a wide-ranging investigation of the police department while considering dismissing up to 3,000 criminal cases involving the officers. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) (The Associated Press)

In this May 12, 2015 photo, a San Francisco Police officer stands on a street in San Francisco. The original charges were shocking enough: six San Francisco police officers were accused of stealing from suspects living in seedy residential hotels. Then federal prosecutors released racist, homophobic and ethnically insensitive email and text messages exchanged among more than a dozen officers, prompting the San Francisco district attorney to launch a wide-ranging investigation of the police department while considering dismissing up to 3,000 criminal cases involving the officers. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2014 file photo, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon speaks during a news conference in San Francisco. The original charges were shocking enough: six San Francisco police officers were accused of stealing from suspects living in seedy residential hotels. Then federal prosecutors released racist, homophobic and ethnically insensitive email and text messages exchanged among more than a dozen officers, prompting the San Francisco district attorney to launch a wide-ranging investigation of the police department while considering dismissing up to 3,000 criminal cases involving the officers. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) (The Associated Press)

The San Francisco police chief is seeking to fire eight officers and discipline six others involved in a racist texting scandal.

The San Francisco turmoil comes amid growing tensions between police departments and communities of color.

Large, sometimes violent protests over police treatment of black suspects have occurred in several cities over the last two years.

The texts were released by federal prosecutors investigating a corruption case.