San Francisco Police Commission Meeting - June 7, 2023
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San Francisco Police Commission Meeting - June 7, 2023
The San Francisco Police Commission met on June 7, 2023, at 1:45 PM. The meeting included recognition of an officer, public comment, reports from the Chief and the Department of Police Accountability (DPA), discussions on officer discipline and the Chief's hearing process, and a vote on a resolution to rescind two bureau orders.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously accepted a $5,000 donation from BXP and Parks Hotel Group for the Officer of the Month awards for January, February, and March 2023.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Marina Resident (speaking on General Public Comment): Expressed frustration with SFPD's response to drug dealing and encampments by two individuals, Nathaniel and Ashley, in the Marina/Cow Hollow area. Claimed their activities violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and create hazardous sidewalk conditions. Urged enforcement.
- James Tyne (22-year Marina resident): Supported the previous speaker, citing ongoing blockages, public health hazards, and dangerous conditions for disabled and elderly residents.
- Bicyclist Commenter: Complained that SFPD does not enforce traffic laws for bicyclists, including those on electric bikes. Described a family member hit by a cyclist on the sidewalk. Noted officer initially said cyclists don't have to stop at stop signs, later corrected by a sergeant. Criticized staffing priorities.
- Homicide Survivor: Played a video about the Healing Circle for homicide survivors. Noted 60% of homicide victims are people of color. Urged action on unsolved homicides.
- Thierry Phil: Advocated for pushing the concept of critical thinking and responsibility in the city's approach to issues.
- Paul Allen: Urged the commission to comply with Charter Section 4.102 and develop an annual statement of purpose, emphasizing the commission's significant authority. Suggested a working group.
Discussion Items
- Chief's Report (Item 5): Chief Scott reported crime statistics: overall Part 1 crimes down 7% year-to-date, property crimes down 8%, violent crime up 5%. Homicides year-to-date: 22 (up from 20 last year). Homicide clearance rate: 95%. Reviewed arrests, including a suspect in the Jermaine Reeves homicide, a stabbing at a bakery, and a robbery of an elderly victim. Announced upgrades to the cold case website. Discussed the new open-air drug enforcement initiative: 8 officers and a sergeant focused on the Tenderloin, making arrests under Health and Safety Code 11550 and 647(f). As of June 6, 25 arrests made; none accepted services. Chief emphasized the initiative is not a pilot but a sustained effort, with coordination through a planned unified command center. Commissioners questioned the initiative's metrics, coordination with public health, and impact on officer morale. Chief also noted a vehicle pursuit review is underway after a fatal incident.
- DPA Director's Report (Item 6): Acting Director Diana Rosenstein reported DPA statistics: 263 cases pending (same as last year), 28 sustained (down from 32), 10 cases mediated. Noted 24 cases past the 270-day mark. Also mentioned an enhanced disciplinary study for 2019-2020 is in development.
- Commission Reports (Item 7): Commissioners reported activities. President Elias requested agendizing the CHP/National Guard report for next week. Commissioner Benedicto requested a resolution supporting CART. Vice President Carter Overstone reported on working group meetings for DGO 810 (First Amendment surveillance). Commissioner Walker attended the police academy graduation (9 graduates) and is working on recruiting more women. Commissioner Yi attended community events. Commissioner Yanez followed up on pre-booking juvenile diversion.
- DPA Key Issue Report: SFPD's Handling of Officer Discipline (Item 10): Steve Flaherty presented two key issues: (1) No written criteria for holding discipline in abeyance; 14 of 126 suspensions (11%) were held in abeyance during 2019-2021. (2) No timeframes for resolving appeals of chief's intended discipline; 55% of DPA cases (28 of 51) were pending chief's hearing for over a year. DPA recommended against using abeyance except in negotiated settlements, citing due process concerns. Chief Scott argued abeyance can be a valuable tool for correcting behavior if codified. Commissioners discussed the need for consistent criteria and timely hearings.
- Chief's Disciplinary Hearing Process (Item 9): Commander Paul Yep, Lieutenant Angel Wilhelm, and Sergeant Craig Wells presented. 124 officers are pending chief's hearings. Causes of backlog: COVID-19, staffing shortages, hearing officer availability, lack of data tracking. Changes implemented: setting dates with notice of intent to discipline (since November 2022), hiring an analyst. Proposals: update DGO 2.07 with 180-day timeline, train commanders as hearing officers, and share discovery workload with DPA. Commissioners discussed the feasibility of commanders hearing cases and the need for timely scheduling.
- Resolution to Rescind Plain Clothes and Social Media Bureau Orders (Item 11): Commissioner Benedicto introduced a revised resolution stating that the commission disapproves of the department's issuance of Bureau Orders without commission approval. The resolution directs the chief to rescind the Plain Clothes Bureau Order after DGO 5.08 is enacted, and the Social Media Bureau Order after a commission-led DGO process is completed. The chief agreed to the outcomes. After debate, the resolution passed 5-2 (Commissioners Byrne and Yee dissenting). Commissioner Byrne objected to the 10-day deadline for the department to submit a draft, preferring 30 days, and to the first
Meeting Transcript
States of America to the Republic for which it stands one nation undergo indivisible liberty and justice for all the press alliance. I'd like to take roll. Please. Commissioner Walker. Present. Commissioner Benedicto. Present. Commissioner Yanyez. President. Commissioner Byrne. Here. Commissioner Yee. Here. Vice President Carter Overstone is in route. President Alliance, do you have a quorum? Also with us tonight. We have Chief Scott from the San Francisco Police Department and Chief of Staff Diana Rosenstein from the Department of Police Accountability. Great. Thank you. Hello, everyone, and welcome to our June 7th, 2023 meeting. But we definitely missed you all, as I'm sure you missed us. So let's go ahead and get started with the first item, please. Line item one, weekly officer recognition certificate. Presentation of an officer who has gone above and beyond in the performance of their duties. Officer Kevin Gill, star number 2419, Richmond Station. Very much Madam President, honorable commissioners, Chief Scott, uh members of the public. My name is Chris Canning. I am the captain of Richmond Station, and it is my honor uh to present before you Officer Kevin Gill of the Richmond Police Station. A few words uh about uh Officer Gill. Officer Gill has been a police officer here in the San Francisco Police Department for nearly eight years. His assignments have included the Ingleside Station where he was trained, Central Police Station, where he served his probationary period. He has served the Richmond community for nearly six years as his permanent assignment and currently is a member of our swing watch. Uh a few things about uh Officer Gill that I would like to note, and I am uh again honored to be here representing uh Officer Gill. Um I first landed at Richmond Station in about October, there was uh a significant crime that occurred on Geary Boulevard, uh, very significant and traumatic for the community. There was a shooting incident, a car to car shooting that involved uh hit and run, um, a foot chase of involved suspects, uh firearm that was um thrown uh during the foot chase. Uh Officer Gill was the uh responding officer that took control of that incident, and uh actually uh over the course of a couple days not only conducted a very thorough preliminary investigation, identified a suspect that was captured by responding officers, coordinated the deployment of the investigations bureau of our CSI team and so forth, and was able to uh provide a very thorough detailed investigation during his preliminary casework to the investigations bureau. This resulted in an arrest, the recovery of a firearm, and uh more than anything else was a seamless exercise and was very very uh helpful to me as I was able to reassure the community that there was a swift response uh not only from Richmond Station but coordination from other uh outside stations that came to assist the Richmond officers. I would have been unable to do that without uh the diligence of Officer Gill. Um that I do want to note uh Officer Gill is an anchor on his watch. It was very easy for me to uh note and recognize him as I worked with the lieutenants at Richmond Station. Uh Officer Gill was mentioned a number of times, and as I worked and spoke with uh his sergeants uh to uh understand a bit more about some of the things that they wanted me to communicate uh to uh you, honorable commissioners uh, and to the public, uh, is that he is very thorough, responsive, reliable, consistent, comes up for calls for service and supports his fellow officers. Um there is a uh a level of commitment and service in his family, uh his significant other and in life partner. Not only are they uh parents together, uh, she is a committed public servant and a teacher. Uh these things I think are important to note that uh uh not only at work but also at home and amongst the the family uh dynamic of Officer Gill's family is committed to public service. Uh so uh with uh what with again my distinct privilege I'd like to present to you uh Officer Gill for this recognition. May I read this, Madam President? Uh Officer Gill, if I may uh read this for the record. Uh the San Francisco Police Department and Police Commission recognizes Officer Kevin Gill, star number 2419 of Richmond Station as the officer of the week in recognition of your dedication and professionalism demonstrated through outstanding community policing practices and inspiring greatness by exemplifying the ideals of police officers as guardians of our community. Such an example of dedication is worthy of the highest esteem by the city and county of San Francisco, the San Francisco Police Department, and the San Francisco Police Commission presented on this seventh day of June 2023, signed by Chief Scott. Congratulations.
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