San Francisco Police Commission Meeting - March 12, 2025

The San Francisco Police Commission held a regular meeting on March 12, 2025, with President Elias and Commissioners Leoung, Clay, and Yañez present (Commissioners Benedicto and Yi excused). Chief William Scott and DPA Executive Director Paul Henderson provided reports. Item 8 (Language Access Services Annual Report) was removed from the agenda. The meeting began with a tribute to outgoing Deputy City Attorney Alicia Cabrera, followed by approvals of the consent calendar and minutes, public comment, reports, a policy revision, and closed session.

Tribute to Deputy City Attorney Alicia Cabrera

The commission recognized Deputy City Attorney Alicia Cabrera for her ten years of service as the commission's legal counsel. Sergeant Youngblood, President Elias, and Chief Scott spoke in appreciation of her guidance and dedication. Cabrera was presented with a Certificate of Recognition from Chief Scott and thanked the commission. The commission welcomed incoming attorney Jen.

Consent Calendar

The commission approved to receive and file the following items: Internal Affairs Division Annual Report 2024; DGO 5.05 Emergency Response and Pursuit Driving Annual Report (January 31, 2025); Department Use of Non-Entity Camera Policy Quarter 3; and the SFPD and DPA SB 1421 and SB16 Month Report for February 2025. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Regarding Item 1 (Tribute): A speaker expressed that everything is reversed and stated "we are under attack," but did not represent a specific organization.
• General Public Comment (Item 2):
  • A speaker called for disobedience to government until concerns about weather manipulation and food poisoning are addressed.
  • A speaker, identifying as an architect and engineer, alleged that after reporting encrypted data transmissions to Russia and evidence of human trafficking, he became a target of the SFPD's Special Victims Unit. He also claimed to have photographed SFPD officers accepting cash payments from Hells Angels associates.
  • A speaker raised issues about whistleblower protection and surveillance equipment, and called for an investigation into Mike Maxwell, criticizing the City Attorney's Office.
  • Alice Rogers, president of the South Beach Rincon Mission Bay Neighborhood Association, expressed emphatic support for the Southern District boundaries as drawn on the final police district map and hand-delivered letters from her association.
  • A speaker congratulated Maddie Scott on her appointment to the Police Commission and urged continued attention to unsolved homicides.
• On Chief's Report (Item 5):
  • A speaker repeated concerns about weather manipulation and questioned SFPD's capacity to investigate it.
  • A speaker asked about the amount of contraband seized in the Jefferson Square Park operation; Chief Scott stated that 0.21 pounds of narcotics were recovered.
  • The mother of a homicide victim again sought assistance for her son's unsolved case.
• On Commission Reports (Item 7):
  • A speaker praised the women in policing event at City Hall and expressed appreciation for representation.
• On DGO 6.07 (Item 9): No public comment was offered.

Chief's Report

Chief Scott reported crime trends:

• Overall Part I crime decreased 33% (from 7,500 to 5,021 year-to-date).
• Property crime down 36% (6,599 to 4,249).
• Violent crime down 14% (901 to 772).
• Gun violence increased 9% (4 more shooting incidents, 2 more shooting victims); homicides by firearm unchanged at three.
• Total homicide victims down 33% (4 to 3).
• Homicide clearance rate: 160% (cases solved from prior years).
• Auto burglaries down 55% (4,066 to 2,309).
• Larceny down 15% (2,197 to 2,057).
• Firearms seized: 202, up from 172 last year.

He highlighted a Drug Market Agency Coordination Center (DMAC) operation at Jefferson Square Park (February 26) that resulted in 86 arrests (55 narcotics-related, including 3 for possession with intent to sell; 31 on warrants). The chief provided a breakdown by gender, race, age, and city of residence. The operation also seized 0.21 pounds of narcotics. A smaller operation at 16th and Mission on March 5 led to 4 arrests and ongoing enforcement.

Other incidents: a homicide on the 900 block of Ellsworth (March 7, no arrest); a carjacking arrest following a pursuit; two juveniles arrested at Stonestown Galleria with a replica assault rifle and a ghost gun; and an officer-involved shooting on 41st Avenue (town hall scheduled for March 18, 2025). Chief Scott also noted a 30% drop in crime during the Chinese New Year parade and All-Star weekend.

Commissioner Clay asked if other areas had requested similar enforcement; Chief confirmed continued hotspot enforcement, particularly on 6th Street and in the Tenderloin.

DPA Director's Report

Executive Director Henderson announced a risk-based audit plan and will survey commissioners. The policy division is finalizing DGO 6.16 (sexual assault) and starting stakeholder engagement for DGO 6.09 (domestic violence). He met with the new commissioner and the Board of Supervisors. The language access presentation was postponed.

Case statistics: Since the last meeting, DPA opened 63 cases and closed 69. The top allegation was "officers speaking inappropriately with members of the public." Sixteen investigations have been open more than 270 days (15 told, 1 ongoing). Pending cases with the chief fell to 98 (a 12% decrease) and with the commission to 2 (a 50% decrease). President Elias inquired about the single non-told case and the status of chief hearings; Henderson noted commanders now conduct hearings and settlements have helped reduce the backlog.

Commission Reports

President Elias reported attending the 50th anniversary celebration of women on patrol (March 5) and announced that the commission's statement of purpose will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on March 26, 2025.

Commissioner Yañez reported meeting with Supervisor Fielder about conditions on 6th Street and Bart, and noted promising support for increased staffing. He inquired about the timeline for DGO 7.01 (juvenile) updates; Chief Scott responded that responses to community recommendations have been submitted. He also asked about the pre-booking program with Judge Chan; Chief Scott said one of Judge Chan's ideas has been implemented and stakeholders are currently on a training trip. Regarding language access, Yañez raised concerns about the community input portal being down; Chief Scott confirmed the deadline was extended by two weeks. Finally, Yañez referenced the emergency response and pursuit driving annual report, noting that 25 of 80 pursuits in 2024 occurred in December after Prop D passed, and requested a future agenda item for the Board of Supervisors' letter of inquiry. President Elias confirmed the letter would be agendized in April.

Revision of Department General Order 6.07 (Dog Complaints)

Officer Greg Sutherland, SFPD's vicious and dangerous dog officer, presented the revised DGO 6.07, last updated in 1994. Key changes include a new definitions section, reorganization by severity, detailed hearing procedures, and clarification of non-SFPD enforcement. The commission approved the revision unanimously (4-0).

Closed Session and Vote on Disclosure

The commission held closed session (Items 10–12) as listed on the agenda. The transcript does not include discussion from those portions. After returning to open session, the commission voted on whether to disclose any or all of the closed session discussions (Item 13). All four present commissioners voted yes; the transcript does not indicate whether this vote resulted in disclosure or nondisclosure.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent calendar and the minutes of February 5, 12, and 19, 2025.
• Approved the revised DGO 6.07 (Dog Complaints).
• Agendized the Board of Supervisors' letter of inquiry regarding the January 2025 officer-involved incident and a status update on the juvenile DGO (DGO 7.01) for future meetings.
• Held closed session; a vote on disclosure was taken with four yes votes, but the outcome is not specified in the transcript.