SF Police Commission Meeting Covers Crime Trends, District Boundaries, and DGO 1.06 on February 19, 2025
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SF Police Commission Meeting Summary – February 19, 2025
The San Francisco Police Commission met on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, to discuss crime trends, the DPA Director's report, and proposed changes to police district boundaries. The commission also approved a revised Department General Order (DGO) 1.06. Commissioners present: Clay, Benedicto, Yanez, Yi, and President Elias. Vice President Carter Overstone was excused. Chief Scott and Executive Director Henderson were in attendance.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent calendar with a motion to receive and file the electronic bias audit for Q3, Q4, and end-of-year 2024, and to accept a $5,000 grant from the National Association of Victims of Crime Act Administrators. The grant from the San Francisco Police Community Foundation was removed from the calendar. Motion passed unanimously (5-0).
Chief’s Report
- Chief Scott reported year-to-date part one crime down 34%, with violent crime down 13% and property crime down 37%. Auto break-ins down 56%, thefts down 30%. Shootings up 5% year-to-date, but homicides down to one (compared to three last year). Clearance rate at 300% due to solving older cases.
- Significant events: NBA All-Star Game and Chinese New Year Parade occurred without major incidents; praised officers and city staff. Also mentioned a $250,000 donation from Charles Barkley following an op-ed by Alex Bastian.
- Discussed Side Show activity: no side shows in SF; a large one on the Bay Bridge was handled by CHP, with SFPD assistance. One arrest and two cars impounded.
- Discussed Sixth Street triage site: a collaborative effort with multiple city agencies; reported 270 engagements in one week, connecting people to services. Commissioners asked for a future presentation on this effort.
DPA Director’s Report
- Executive Director Henderson announced a new use of force audit, new interns, and that the DPA opened 18 new cases and closed 15 since last meeting. Top allegation was conduct unbecoming. 19 investigations open over 270 days (16 of those are on hold). 4 cases pending with the Police Commission, 103 pending with the Chief's office.
Commission Reports
- Commissioner Benedicto acknowledged Black History Month and praised the department for the parade and All-Star Game staffing.
- Commissioner Yanez raised concerns about missing community policing annual reports and requested updates on juvenile pre-booking program and DGO revisions. Chief Scott provided updates on the pre-booking program, noting ongoing collaboration with partners.
Presentation and Discussion on SFPD District Boundaries
- Commissioner Benedicto presented the district boundary review process, noting it was a multi-year effort. The commission considered the proposed map (page 84) and voted to forward it to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors.
- Public comment included: Paul Allen (concerned about insufficient explanation for declining boundary changes), Chris Schuman (Lower Polk CBD: opposes proposed map), Alice Rogers (South Beach/Fillmore/Mission Bay Neighborhood Association: supports final map), Pratiba Tekke (Tenderloin Housing Clinic: opposes final map), Eric Rosell (Tenderloin CBD: supports patrol preferred map), and Gregory Johnson (CCSROC: urged future considerations).
- Commissioner Benedicto made a motion to forward the proposal, starting a 90-day public comment period ending May 20, 2025. Motion passed unanimously (5-0).
Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Dept. General Order 1.06
- Chief Scott presented DGO 1.06, 'Duties of Commissioned Officers', noting it was a collaborative effort with DPA. DPA had no objections. The DGO was last updated in 1994. Commissioner Clay moved to approve the DGO, seconded by Commissioner Yanez. Motion passed unanimously (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- Approved consent calendar (5-0).
- Approved forwarding district boundaries proposal to Mayor and Board of Supervisors (5-0), starting a 90-day comment period.
- Approved DGO 1.06 (5-0).
- Closed session was removed from the agenda; meeting adjourned at 4 minutes over schedule.
Meeting Transcript
Uh it's interesting to the public for which one nation under God individual and justice. President Lyons would like to take roll. Please. Commissioner Clay, present. Commissioner Benedicto. Present. Commissioner Yanez. President. Commissioner Yi. Here. Vice President Carter Overstone is excused. President Alliance, you have a quorum. Also tonight we have Chief Scott from the San Francisco Police Department and Executive Director Paul Henderson from the Department of Police Accountability. Great. Thank you. Welcome everyone to our February 19, 2025 meeting. This is our last meeting of the month. With that, uh Sergeant, you want to call the first item? Line item one, general public comment. At this time, the public is now welcome 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. 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 twelve forty-five third street, San Francisco, California, nine four one five eight. If you would like to make public comment, please approach the podium. Thank you. Good evening, guys. Okay. I really don't know what I'm going to talk about here. It follows the meeting of MTA yesterday, so I'll put some nail here, trying to explain because I think the last time we saw each other, I mean two weeks ago, I vaguely mentioned to you something called the Buck Revolution, which I started. It's a revolution. So I want you to understand what the name Buck means because otherwise you're gonna think, yeah, it's about money or dollars. No, no. Buck stands for the name of the famous dog from the famous booch from famous Jack London, native of San Francisco, called the call of the wild. So the future of humanity is about reconnecting itself with his fellow creatures, that is all species. Business is over. It lasted for I don't know how many centuries, but it leads to destruction. We can see it, huh? So it's gonna be beautiful because I'm working for beauty, huh? Following the rules from the skies, which I'm ordered to follow. So how does it uh police fit in there? I think because we are talking about basically animals, which we are. I think uh veterinarians which are going to have an essential role to play, and I think the police in the future is gonna have to make sure that nobody attacks the veterinarians. You see, it's not it's about health somehow, but of course, but so step by step. I don't know anyway, is to get you out of the trap you are you know. We are all in, including me. Except I'm working for this guy. It's a big difference. Step by step. Yeah.
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