San Francisco Police Commission Meeting - June 15, 2022
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San Francisco Police Commission Meeting - June 15, 2022
The San Francisco Police Commission met on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at 5:45 PM UTC (listed start time). The meeting included general public comment, approval of the consent calendar, reports from the Chief and the Department of Police Accountability (DPA), commission reports, a presentation on the SFPD Homicide Detail's protocols for families of homicide victims, and a closed session. All votes on the consent calendar and closed session motions were unanimous (6-0).
Consent Calendar
- SFPD SB 1421 & SB 16 Monthly Report – Received and filed.
- DPA SB 1421 & SB 16 Monthly Report – Received and filed.
- Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) Update – Received and filed.
- Motion to accept passed 6-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment (Item 1):
- Deputy Public Defender Brian Cox (representing the Coalition to End Bias Stops) asked when working groups for DGO 9.01 (biased traffic stops) would begin, expressing urgency and noting racial disparities in stops and searches persist.
- David Calderon requested assistance from DPA regarding two complaints that were erroneously closed and alleged mishandled communication with DPA staff.
- Public Comment on Consent Calendar (Item 2): No callers spoke.
- Public Comment on Chief’s Report (Item 3): No callers spoke.
- Public Comment on DPA Director’s Report (Item 4):
- Mary Bow (mother of a 2007 homicide victim) attempted to speak but was redirected to Item 6 (Homicide protocols).
- David Calderon provided his DPA case number for follow-up.
- Public Comment on Commission Reports (Item 5):
- A caller questioned whether polling was done on public support for ending pretext stops and noted that DPA case numbers are public record.
- Lieutenant Yolanda Williams (SFPD) requested an equitable disciplinary process, better performance appraisal training, a retirement transition program for officers at 20-25 years, and improved career development.
- Public Comment on Homicide Detail Presentation (Item 6):
- Paule Brown (mother of 2006 homicide victim Aubrey Alacasa) expressed frustration that her son’s case remains unsolved after 16 years, asked for quarterly family contact, noted over 500 unsolved homicides from the 1960s onward, and said victim compensation was insufficient for a headstone.
- George Duran (supporting the Human Circle) suggested quarterly meetings with families, collaboration with the FBI on cold cases, and public safety announcements to build trust and encourage witnesses.
- David Calderon described negative experiences with retired investigator James Spillane (who allegedly said his mother was “a junkie and not worth looking into”) and alleged misconduct by prior investigators; he requested that his mother’s 1992 case be reopened.
- Mary Bow (mother of 2007 homicide victim) reported no investigator contact in 15 years; she urged more frequent communication (at least quarterly) and criticized the limited cold case staffing of two part-time retired officers.
- Kenya Tay (daughter of a mother who lost two sons to gun violence) said her family never received calls from homicide investigators, noted five and 15-year-old cases, and requested a reward for her younger brother’s murder.
Discussion Items
- Chief’s Report (Item 3): Chief William Scott presented year-to-date crime statistics (as of June 15, 2022):
- Violent crime: 20 homicides (up 5% from 19); robberies up 7% (102 vs. 95); aggravated assaults up 11% (1,094 vs. 983); human trafficking down 39% (11 vs. 18); total violent crime up 4% (2,219 vs. 2,128).
- Property crime: Burglaries down 26% (2,567 vs. 3,459); motor vehicle thefts up 2% (2,687 vs. 2,646); arsons down 19% (125 vs. 154); larceny theft (largest driver) up 19% (14,018 vs. 11,765); auto burglaries up 12% year-to-date; total Part 1 crime up 7% (21,616 vs. 21,520).
- Shootings and firearms: Shooting victims down 7% (82 vs. 88); homicides with firearms down by one (12 vs. 13); 445 total firearm seizures, of which 91 were ghost guns (ghost gun recoveries down from 99 this time last year).
- Significant arrests: A repeat organized retail theft offender was arrested; a bank robbery suspect was apprehended by a bicycle officer; two of six robbery suspects were arrested in a June 10 attack.
- Upcoming events: Heavy police deployment planned for Warriors NBA Finals games (June 16, possibly June 19) and Juneteenth events (Fillmore, Bayview).
- DPA Director’s Report (Item 4): Acting Director Diana Rosenstein reported:
- Welcomed a cohort of summer interns (law school, college, high school).
- Case statistics: 306 cases opened year-to-date (60 fewer than last year); 300 closed; 268 cases pending; 33 sustained cases (up from 27); 10 mediated cases; 18 cases past the 270-day charter deadline (13 are total, down from 22 last year); 10 new cases received that week; top allegations: failure to take required action, speaking inappropriately, and incomplete/inaccurate reports.
- No cases in closed session.
- Followed up on David Calderon’s public comment.
- Commission Reports (Item 5):
- Vice President Elias inquired about promoting DPA complaint access (especially for youth), asked about a 15% increase in arrests of individuals 17 and under (first quarter CSI report), and discussed disciplinary process consistency, performance evaluations, and performance improvement plans (PIPs). Chief Scott noted that early intervention is not punitive, performance evaluations are mandatory, and PIPs are used; he acknowledged the need to improve the evaluation process (open DOJ recommendation).
- Commissioner Benedicto reported progress on DGO 9.01 (pretext stops) and attended the 20-year memorial for Officer John Cox (SFPD Pride Alliance).
- Commissioner Yannis thanked the Chief for crowd control at Chase Center, asked about an assault on a Millbrae councilman at Land’s End (park police jurisdiction with SFPD assistance), and requested a tour of SFPD dispatch.
- Acting Director Rosenstein noted DPA’s “Know Your Rights” workshops in SFUSD schools and partnership with SFPD training.
- Presentation on SFPD Homicide Detail Protocols for Families (Item 6):
- Lieutenant Calvin Sanders and Sergeant Alan Levy (Cold Case Unit) presented:
- Staffing: 16 sworn members: 15 investigators, 1 video retrieval officer, plus 2 retired investigators (part-time) in the cold case unit, 1 full-time sergeant (Sergeant Levy), and civilian support.
- Caseload: Active homicide investigators carry 4-7 cases per year; cold case unit has 21 active and open cases, plus about 10 from active investigators, totaling 31. Historical unsolved homicides likely exceed 500.
- Protocols: Initial family contact occurs after the medical examiner notifies next of kin; investigators meet in person, explain the process, discuss evidence turnaround times, media coverage, and family concerns (safety, finances, legal system). Families receive lead investigator’s desk and cell numbers.
- Updates: For active cases, weekly or biweekly communication; for unsolved cases, standing order requires a call on the anniversary date or next business day. Upon investigator transfer or retirement, families are notified and new contact provided.
- Cold case definition: A case is considered cold after 5 years of inactivity (no leads).
- Genealogy: SFPD crime lab uses investigative genealogy for eligible cases; exact number not provided.
- Commissioner Byrne suggested contacting families at least twice a year; Vice President Elias requested a follow-up on progress in contacting families and a plan for more proactive outreach. Acting Deputy Chief Raj Vaswani agreed to follow up with the callers’ cases and provide an update in a few months.
- Lieutenant Calvin Sanders and Sergeant Alan Levy (Cold Case Unit) presented:
- Closed Session (Items 7-10):
- Public comment on closed session was called; none offered.
- Motion to hold Item 9 in closed session passed 6-0.
- After closed session, motion to elect whether to disclose any or all discussion held in closed session passed 6-0, with Commissioner Carter Oberstone voting yes but reserving the right to disclose information that appears disclosable.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved (unanimous, 6-0).
- Vote to hold closed session (Item 9) passed 6-0.
- Vote to disclose closed session discussions (Item 10) passed 6-0, with a reservation from Commissioner Carter Oberstone.
- Commission directed that SFPD follow up with family members who called during public comment on Item 6, and requested that the Homicide Detail return in a few months for an update on improved family outreach protocols and progress on cold case investigations.
Meeting Transcript
Order. If you could please rise if you're able for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Great, thank you. Commissioner Benedicto. Here. Commissioner Benedict is here. Commissioner Yannis. Commissioner Giannis is present. Commissioner Carter Oberstone. President. Here. Commissioner Byrne is here. And Commissioner Yi is in route. Vice President Elias, you have a quorum. Also here with us tonight. We have Chief William Scott from the San Francisco Police Department and Diana Rosenstein from the Department of Police Accountability. Great. Thank you so much. Welcome everyone. Welcome to our June 15th, 2022 Police Commission meeting. I was gonna say heavy agenda, but not really. So go ahead and call the first item. Line item one, general public comment. At this time, the public is now welcome to make to address the commission for up to two minutes on items that do not appear on tonight's agenda, but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the police commission. Under police commission rules of order, during public comment, neither police or DPA personnel nor commissioners are required to respond to questions by the public, but may provide a brief response. Comments or opportunities to speak during public comment period are available via phone by calling 415-655-0001 and entering access code 2483 6640301. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in either of the following ways. Email the Secretary of the Police Commission at SFPD.commission at SFgov.org or written comments may be sent via U.S. Postal Service to the public safety building located at 1230 1245 Third Street San Francisco, California, 94, excuse me, 94158. If you would like to make public comment, please press star three now. Good evening, caller. You have two minutes. Good evening, Commissioners. Uh Chief Scott and Executive Corrector Henderson. I'm Deputy Public Defender Brian Cox, and I'm a member of the coalition to end bias stops in San Francisco. I call tonight to ask when the working groups will begin for DGO 9.01. It's been about a year since DPA Director Henderson invited me and other committee members to provide recommendations about possible avenues for reform. Common threat among many presenters was ending biased traffic stops. It's been a many months since Commissioner Carter Overstone raised this uh idea at one of these meetings. And thank you for your leadership on that issue and for the commission's hard work so far. It's encouraging to see how far we've come. Uh, but it's also a reminder of how much is left, how far we have to go. Um it's been more than a month since the DGO has been introduced. And if the commission will be offline for the next three weeks, uh it looks like we'll have to continue to wait as this process rolls out without any information. The racial disparities and stops and searches remain the same, and we'll do remain the same until this body acts swiftly. I look forward to hearing more about this process and will begin and when it will begin. Thank you. Thank you, caller. Good evening, caller.
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