San Francisco Police Commission Meeting, May 11, 2022

The San Francisco Police Commission held a regular meeting on May 11, 2022, at 5:45 PM UTC, to discuss crime trends, department morale, and a proposed policy to end pretext stops. The meeting included public comment, reports from the Chief of Police and the Department of Police Accountability (DPA), and presentations on electronic communication device audits, the Early Intervention System (EIS), the Green Pin Campaign, and the Firearm Discharge Review Board (FDRB).

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved the SFPD DPA document protocol quarterly report (Q1 2022) and the Limited English Proficiency annual report 2021.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Susan Buckman (Wealth and Disparities in the Black Community) quoted Felicia Jones, accusing the commission of anti-blackness and lack of urgency regarding use of force, arrests, and racial profiling.
• Jean Bridges (Wealth and Disparities) cited SFPD data: Black San Franciscans are 6 times more likely to be stopped, more than 10 times more likely to be arrested, and nearly 16 times more likely to experience use of force compared to white residents. She demanded an end to routine traffic stops.
• Francisco de Costa urged more police to address quality-of-life issues and drugs, and later suggested training volunteers to reduce police calls.
• Wesley Savers (Glide) and Eliana Bender (Glide) supported the draft DGO 9.01 to end pretext stops, representing the coalition to end bias stops (over 60 organizations).
• Clara Mobley (SF Bicycle Coalition) asked for a more comprehensive list of pretext violations.
• Ken Say (League of Women Voters) expressed concern that working groups have been used for delay and intimidation.
• Carolyn Gusin, Zach Dillon, Angela Chan (Public Defender's Office) and others supported a strong policy, citing 27,000 stops in 2021.
• Kit Hodge (Wealth and Disparities) credited Felicia Jones for years of advocacy and demanded meaningful consequences for biased stops.
• Eric Arguello (Glide), Danielle Harris (public defender), Brian Cox (Public Defender), Lindsay Chung (SF Bicycle Coalition), David Aronson (Wealth and Disparities), and Tess Wellborn (resident) spoke in favor of ending pretext stops.
• Brian Hogsman (Walk SF) argued that low-level stops do not address traffic safety, which is primarily caused by speeding and failure to yield.
• An anonymous caller (likely representing the Police Officers Association) opposed the policy, claiming it was not based on data and attacking Commissioner Overstone.
• Susan Uffman dismissed the anonymous caller’s attacks and encouraged the commission to proceed.

Discussion Items

• Chief’s Report: Chief William Scott reported that homicides are up 15% year-to-date (13 vs. 15), gun violence is down 12%, and property crimes (especially larceny) are up 25%. He detailed shootings, arrests, ghost gun seizures (344 in 2022), and a carjacking ring. He also updated on a $6 million state grant for gun violence reduction and ongoing MOU mediation with the District Attorney’s office.
• DPA Director’s Report: Paul Henderson reported 236 open cases, 21 sustained, 32 cases beyond 9 months (22 tolled). He noted a drop in use-of-force allegations at Central Station and a new annual report forthcoming.
• Commission Reports:
  • Commissioner Giannis described a five-day “Sojourn” trip to civil rights sites in the South, calling it a valuable step toward reconciliation and urging continued investment.
  • Commissioner Byrne reported a night beat in the Tenderloin, observing open drug dealing and noting only 12 officers on duty; he requested more resources.
  • Commissioner Benedicto spoke at a press conference by the coalition to end bias stops, expressing excitement for the DGO 9.01 process.
• DGO 9.01 – Pretext Stops: Commissioner Carter Overstone introduced the draft policy, which bans stops for 15 low-level offenses and limits consent searches and investigatory questions. The policy aims to reduce racial disparities and free up resources for serious crime. Chief Scott and DPA staff voiced strong support. The commission opened a 30-day public comment period (through June 11, 2022), with plans for working groups and community listening sessions.
• Audit of Electronic Communication Devices (Q1 2022): Commander Paul Yap reported that of 52 CLETS hits, 412 email hits, and 50 text hits, only one email was flagged as potentially biased (but was a quote from a meeting). Commissioners asked for historical data on bias-related discipline.
• Early Intervention System (Q3 2021): Commander Yap presented data: 71 alerts, 37 members with one alert, 11 with two, 4 with three. Mission Station had the most alerts (18). Only one performance improvement plan was initiated. Commissioners questioned the one-year reporting lag and the system’s effectiveness. Sergeant Naval explained that alerts measure activity, not necessarily misconduct, and that supervisors use discretion.
• Green Pin Campaign: The commission approved a temporary modification of DGO 10.01 to allow officers to wear green pins during May 2022 for Mental Health Awareness Month.
• Firearm Discharge Review Board (Q4 2021): Deputy Chief Robert O’Sullivan summarized three officer-involved shootings (one in 2018, two in 2020) and two accidental discharges. All three shootings were deemed within policy, though tactical issues were noted in one. The two discharges were out of policy. Commissioners discussed why administrative investigations remain pending in some cases due to ongoing criminal investigations.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved unanimously.
• DGO 9.01 introduced; public comment open until June 11, 2022; working groups and listening sessions to follow.
• Green pin campaign approved unanimously.
• FDRB findings: two officer-involved discharges (OID) out of policy, three officer-involved shootings (OIS) within policy, with recommendations for tactical improvements.
• Commission directed staff to provide data on the number of bias-related investigations resulting in discipline and to improve the timeliness of EIS reports.
• The commission will revisit the MOU with the District Attorney’s office at a future meeting.