San Francisco Police Commission Meeting Summary - July 17, 2024
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San Francisco Police Commission Meeting - July 17, 2024
The San Francisco Police Commission met on July 17, 2024, at 1:45 PM (UTC). The meeting included an officer recognition, reports from the Chief and the Department of Police Accountability (DPA), a presentation on the Law Enforcement Equipment Policy Annual Report (AB 481), approval of revised Department General Orders (DGOs) 5.03 (Investigative Detentions) and 5.05 (Emergency Response and Pursuit Driving), and a closed session. Items 7 (DGO 7.04 on Safeguarding Children) and 12E/F were removed from the agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Multiple speakers addressed the commission during general public comment. Topics included calls for a Peace Corps-style exchange program for first responders, allegations of misconduct by a senior city official submitted to the FBI, support for ballot measures limiting the commission's authority, and concerns about police tactics at the Dolores Hill Bomb event.
- During the AB 481 discussion, a speaker from the American Friends Service Committee criticized the department for not fully disclosing its firearms inventory and failing to demonstrate need for additional weapons, citing declining gun violence.
- One speaker urged the commission to focus on foot patrols and community engagement as crime-reduction strategies.
Discussion Items
- Weekly Officer Recognition: Officer John Norment (Bayview Station) was recognized for 17 years of service, including work on the Third Street Footbeat, public housing detail, and community programs (reading partners, wilderness excursions). Commissioners and Chief Scott praised his mentorship and community policing. Chief Scott noted Officer Norment will retire in September due to a medical condition.
- Chief’s Report: Chief Scott reported a 32% reduction in Part I crimes year-to-date (about 9,000 fewer crimes), property crimes down 34%, violent crimes down 11%, homicides down 38% (18 vs. 29 year-to-date), and a 94% homicide clearance rate. Car break-ins were down 55% (just over 5,000 vs. nearly 11,000). Four non-fatal shootings occurred during the reporting period. A tragic case involving a missing child (Ellie Lorenzo) was mentioned: her father committed suicide in San Francisco; the child was later found deceased in San Jose. Side show incidents have decreased (22 this year vs. 45 all of last year).
- DPA Director’s Report: Executive Director Henderson announced DPA has zero cases not tolling (lowest in agency history) and will present four cases in closed session (one-third of the pending backlog). DPA met with Internal Affairs to improve efficiency. An audit on stop data is complete and undergoing edits; it will address data sharing issues. DPA opened 9 cases and closed 28 since the last meeting.
- Commission Reports: Commissioner Walker requested a September 18 update on the 30x30 initiative to increase female officer representation. Commissioner Elias reported a meeting with the Body Worn Camera (BWC) unit; the unit has 8 of 10 staff and receives 4-5 footage requests daily, with each minute of video taking 3-5 minutes to redact. Commissioner Benedicto acknowledged work on DGOs 7.01 and 7.04 (pulled for community input). Commissioner Yañez noted his father’s recent passing and advocated for a juvenile pre-booking diversion program, citing 370 unduplicated juvenile referrals since January 2022. Vice President Carter Oberstone noted DGO 9.07 (de-emphasizing non-safety traffic stops) became effective that day.
- Law Enforcement Equipment Policy Annual Report (AB 481): Policy Manager Aja Steves presented the inaugural annual report, posted June 11, 2024. The report covers items acquired before January 1, 2022 (e.g., armored vehicles, flashbangs, assault rifles for specialized units). The department reported no complaints about the equipment itself. Commissioners expressed concern that state law requires a community engagement meeting (not just two-minute public comment) and that the report was submitted six months late (received extension to June 15). Commissioner Clay noted no sanction exists for late filing. The commission asked for additional community meetings before sending to the Board of Supervisors. It was clarified that drones (UAVs) are not included but a separate use policy will be required.
- DGO 5.03 (Investigative Detentions): The revised order requires officers to articulate on BWC the factors supporting a pat-search (e.g., belief subject was armed, source/age of information). Commissioner Benedicto offered clarifying amendments (changing present tense to past tense). Commissioner Elias expressed concern that pat-searches are intrusive and data shows racial disparities, but supported the order as compliant with Prop E. The commission voted 6-1 to approve (Vice President Carter Oberstone opposed).
- DGO 5.05 (Emergency Response and Pursuit Driving): The revised order complies with Prop E by expanding circumstances for pursuits. The commission added a requirement to report apprehension data (green language) despite the chief’s objection that it’s not required by Prop E. The vote was 5-2 in favor (Commissioners Walker and Yee opposed).
Key Outcomes
- Approved: DGO 5.03 (Investigative Detentions) – 6 yes, 1 no.
- Approved: DGO 5.05 (Emergency Response and Pursuit Driving) – 5 yes, 2 no. (Includes additional apprehension data reporting.)
- Directed: The department to hold additional community engagement meetings on the AB 481 annual report and bring an update to the commission in September.
- Scheduled: A discussion on the juvenile pre-booking diversion program for the September meeting.
- Noted: DGO 7.04 (Safeguarding Children) and items 12E/F were removed from the agenda; DGO 7.01 will be agendized in the future.
- Closed Session: The commission voted unanimously (9-0) to enter closed session for Item 12 (discussed four discipline cases from DPA) and voted unanimously not to disclose any discussion.
Meeting Transcript
President Lyons, like to take roll? Commissioner Clay. Commissioner Walker. Commissioner Benedicto. Present. Commissioner Yannez. Present. Commissioner Yi. Present. Vice President Carter Oberstone is in round. President Lyons, you have a quorum also with us tonight. Our Chief Scott from the San Francisco Police Department and Acting Executive Director Diana Rosenstein for the Department of Police Accountability. Hello, welcome everyone to our July 17th police commission meeting. Happy Wednesday. Let's get this party started. Call the first item. Line item one, weekly officer recognition certificate. Presentation of an officer who has gone above and beyond in the performance of their duties. Officer John Norman, star number 641, Bayview Station. Did you tell it to pull? Stacy. We're gonna commission. Chief Scott. It is my honor to present Officer John Norman of Bayview Station to be recognized by the police commission tonight. John has been a member of the department for 17 years. He has been at Bayview for almost 15 years. His first three years at Bayview, he was on the Third Street Footbeat, where he was also the station's representative for three separate neighborhood community groups. The next 12 years, John was on the public housing detail where he was in charge of coordinating police community events, including turkey, backpack, toy, and Christmas tree giveaways. He represented the department at multiple communities new construction of public housing developments and represented the department in monthly meetings with the public housing development managers. He was in charge of the reading partners program where officers volunteer to tutor Bret Hart elementary students who are behind in their reading skills. He was active in the wilderness program where he drove neighborhood youth on camping, hiking, and rafting excursions. John has been a mentor and a friend to all the officers at Bayview Station. He has a great joy for his job, a great joy for his family. And it's with sadness that I have to say this, but John is his career in the police department is coming to an end, so that's why I wanted to uh acknowledge him tonight. And in September, John will be retiring from the police department in 2020. John was diagnosed with a severe um medical condition that I can't pronounce the name. He told me what it was, and there's no way I could do it. But he told I was his lieutenant at the time, and John had come to work since then every day. He still is a happy, smiley guy, a mentor to the young officers, great with the community. He never he never complained about it. He never let him down. And it's just uh it's gonna be tough to lose him at the station because he's been such a great influence on the officers, and he's been if you look at if you're looking for a picture of an ambassador for community policing, it's Officer John Norman. Therefore, I'd like to present to you, Officer John Normant of Bayview Station. Please come on, come on up. We'd want to allow you the opportunity to speak if you want, or you can choose not to. Like to thank the captain. I completely beside myself for this. But uh like to thank my wife and uh my kids who didn't get to see me for 17 years. So uh we're gonna get the united and soon, and also thank you for your support. This is a great city, and I'm gonna miss it.
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