San Francisco Police Commission Meeting - July 20, 2022

The San Francisco Police Commission met on July 20, 2022, at 1:45 PM (PDT) with all seven commissioners present. The meeting included the introduction of new Commissioner Deborah Walker, the Chief's crime report, a discussion on surveillance technology legislation, plans to increase police presence and drug enforcement in the Tenderloin, the status of the MOU between SFPD and the District Attorney, and the Department of Police Accountability's 2021 Annual Report. The Commission also approved revised Department General Order 3.07.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved (7-0) the consent calendar, which included: SFPD and DPA SB 1421/SB16 monthly reports, Family Code 6228 quarterly report, sexual assault evidence kit semi-annual report, and the police commission disciplinary actions report for Q2 2022.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Wesley Saver (Glide Senior Policy Manager): Stated that SFPD officers have cited program participants for possessing legal harm reduction supplies and requested the Commission clarify the law to officers to stop these actions.
• Kit Hodge (Wealth and Disparities in the Black Community): Quoted Felicia Jones, calling SFPD actions "anti-blackness" regarding use of force, arrests, and racial profiling; criticized lack of urgency and requested the MOU between SFPD and DA remain in place.
• Jean Bridges (WDBC volunteer): Repeated the same quote and added that black San Franciscans are 10 times as likely to be arrested, 15 times as likely to be subjected to use of force, and more than five times as likely to be subject to traffic stops; opposed expanded surveillance.
• Francisco De Costa: Urged focus on mental health issues, especially in Bayview, and requested SFPD work with the health department.
• Barry Toronto: Complained about lack of enforcement on illegally parked cars in bike lanes near clubs on 11th Street and issues at Walgreens at 18th and Castro.
• Colin Brown: Spoke about her son's unsolved 2006 murder; pleaded for more attention to unsolved homicides and provided suspect names; called for support and media coverage.
• Multiple callers during later agenda items opposed the surveillance technology policy, citing racial disparities and lack of safeguards.
• Deputy Public Defender Brian Cox: Argued the surveillance policy lacks guardrails and will disproportionately target black and brown people; called for subpoena instead of live monitoring.
• Susan Buckman (WDBC core team): Stated that SFPD should not be given greater surveillance power given existing disparities.
• Other callers expressed support for using cameras to address theft and safety concerns.
• Ms. Brown also called multiple times regarding her son's case and alleged lack of follow-up by investigators.
• David Calderon: Requested his mother's homicide case be agendized due to conflicting information.

Discussion Items

• Chief's Report (Chief William Scott):
  • Violent crime is up 6% year-to-date; property crimes down 25%. Gun violence homicides down 11%. Ghost guns: 116 recovered out of 564 total firearms. Two non-fatal shootings reported; no homicides. A bomb threat at SFO was resolved with an arrest.
  • Strategies: Deployed additional patrols to address watch robberies in Union Square, Chinatown, Northern District, and auto burglaries in Taraval area. Tourist patrols continue via voluntary overtime.
  • Commissioner Yee asked about community policing funding; Chief said no additional staff or funding from Supervisor Mar's ordinance.
  • Commissioner Benedicto asked about recent drug paraphernalia citations; Chief deferred to Tenderloin presentation.
  • Commissioner Walker requested a future presentation on partnerships with community groups (e.g., patrol specials, ambassadors). Commissioners agreed to agendize.
• DPA Director's Report (Executive Director Paul Henderson):
  • Opened 358 cases year-to-date; closed 393; 227 active; 39 sustained. Mediated 13 cases. 20 cases over 9 months (16 on hold). Top complaints: neglect of duty and conduct unbecoming.
  • Outreach: Summer intern program continued; presented at station community meetings.
  • Commissioner Benedicto requested a fall presentation on the mediation program including mediators and participants.
• Item 7: Status Update on Surveillance Technology Legislation (Special Project Manager Aja Steves and Chief Scott):
  • Explained SF Admin Code 19B process. The new STP (non-city entity surveillance cameras) is before the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee. It would allow SFPD to request video footage from private entities with captain-level approval and consent; live monitoring requires exigent circumstances or significant events.
  • Commissioners raised concerns about racial disparities, civil liberties, immigration consequences, and potential abuse. Chief emphasized deterrent effect and crime-solving benefits; annual reporting planned.
  • Commissioner Carter Oberstone noted the policy's link to DGO 8.10 (First Amendment activities) and questioned its status; Chief said an update would be provided.
• Item 8: Discussion on SFPD's Plan to Increase Police Presence and Drug Enforcement in the Tenderloin:
  • Chief detailed the overdose crisis: 641 deaths in 2021, 297 year-to-date in 2022. Tenderloin accounts for 23% of overdoses. SFPD received a $125,000 DOJ community policing grant to disrupt open-air drug markets using engagement and enforcement (citations, arrests for warrants/stay-away orders, Narcan saves). Since July, over 150 citations and nearly 300 arrests for drug sales.
  • Commissioners debated: Commissioner Elias questioned why now; Chief said grant enabled strategy. Commissioner Yannis favored engagement and treatment over paraphernalia citations. Commissioner Byrne noted displacement and need for foot patrols. Commissioner Walker stressed inter-agency coordination.
• Item 9: Status of MOU between SFPD and District Attorney:
  • Chief reported a 30-business-day extension with DA Jenkins; negotiations ongoing via mediator Judge Walker. Committed to not operating without an MOU. Commissioner Benedicto requested regular updates in Chief's report. Director Henderson offered DPA assistance but is not in mediation.
• Item 10: DPA 2021 Annual Report Presentation (Sarah Muckins):
  • Sustained rate 11% (national avg 4%); 146 policy recommendations. Top allegations: neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming. Mediated 37 cases. New district pages with call-for-service comparison. Audit unit award-winning. Racial equity hiring: 50% exec staff women, 40% women of color.
  • Commissioners asked about correlation with Early Intervention System; DPA does not have access. Commissioner Yannis requested cross-reference. Commissioner Walker noted high neglect of duty cases. Assistant Chief Mosier said trainings are scheduled at stations in August to address report-taking failures.
• Item 11: Approval of Revised DGO 3.07 (Collision Board of Review):
  • Presented by Chief; revised policy meets meet-and-confer requirement. Commissioner Yannis questioned "recommended" disciplinary language vs. "required"; Chief referenced existing disciplinary guidelines. Approved unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

• Votes: Unanimously approved Consent Calendar (7-0). Unanimously approved DGO 3.07 (7-0). Unanimously voted to go into closed session (7-0) and later voted not to disclose closed session discussions (7-0).
• Directives:
  • Chief to have inspector follow up with Ms. Brown on her son's unsolved homicide case.
  • Commission to agendize a future presentation on community partnerships (patrol specials, ambassadors).
  • Commission to agendize presentations on the DPA mediation program, SFPD budget increase, psychological evaluation DGOs, and community policing plans.
  • DPA to provide follow-up data on multiple sustained allegations per officer and cross-reference with the Early Intervention System.
  • SFPD to report quarterly on live surveillance requests and to share the Tenderloin grant report with the Commission.
  • MOU extension for 30 business days; regular updates expected in Chief's report.
  • DPA and IAD to conduct station visits in August to address neglect of duty complaints.