San Francisco Police Commission Meeting - April 2, 2025

The San Francisco Police Commission held its regular meeting on April 2, 2025, at 1:45 PM. The meeting included welcome of new Commissioner Matty Scott, officer recognition, public comment, presentation of crime statistics, adoption of several Department General Orders (DGOs), and a vote to enter closed session.

Consent Calendar

• Consent calendar received and filed: approval of travel and hotel accommodations for two members to attend the 2025 Asians in Law Enforcement Leadership Conference (value $1,804.92) and the Police Commission Report of Disciplinary Actions for the first quarter of 2025 (the Vernese Report). Unanimous vote (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Michael Petrellis (Castro community policing activist): Objected to the time spent on officer commendations, urging the commission to instead highlight unsolved crimes at the start of each meeting.
• Public comments on various topics: redistricting of police station boundaries (speaker from Tenderloin Housing Clinic requested community dialogue before finalization); concerns about unsolved homicides (mother of Arbor Abracasa urged action); request for foot patrols in the Castro after a March 9th assault on a bartender; criticism of the city's public safety liaison Dave Burke; concern over unsolved cases and tip rewards.
• Multiple callers commented on the adoption of minutes, alleging difficulty in remote public comment access.
• Public comment on the Chief’s Report: speakers emphasized the need for foot patrols in the Castro and questioned the outcome of the March 19th protest arrests (41 arrests, zero charges).
• Public comment on DPA report: general appreciation for the department's evolution and recognition of Commissioner Scott’s appointment.
• No public comment on several DGO agenda items (items 8, 9, 10, 11, 12).

Discussion Items

• Weekly Officer Recognition: Officer Horace Liu (Star No. 882, Tenderloin Station) was recognized for consistent professionalism and community policing. Commission members praised his dedication.
• Chief’s Report (Chief Scott):
  • Crime trends: Part one crimes down 32% overall (15% violent, 34% property). Gun violence up 7% vs. 2024. One nonfatal shooting (four victims), no homicides in past week, four homicides year-to-date with a 125% clearance rate (solved 5 cases for 4 homicides). Burglary clearance 13% (near national avg. 14.4%), sexual assault clearance 19%.
  • Technology (Flock cameras, drones) contributed to improved clearance rates.
  • Significant incidents: March 30 shooting on Acacia Avenue (multiple shooters, four victims); aggravated assault on an officer; stabbing at Market & Guerrero; ongoing protests at Tesla showroom.
  • Commissioner Benedicto asked about clearance rates and follow-up on prior incidents (fake ICE/DOGE jacket wearers); Chief responded no arrests but reports filed.
• DPA Director’s Report (Paul Henderson):
  • Policy work: language access focus groups, upcoming brief on policy failures. 47 new cases opened, 58 closed since last meeting. Top allegation: failure to take required action. 15 investigations open >270 days; 91 pending with Chief; 2 pending with Commission.
  • Use-of-force audit extension granted to April 7.
• Commission Reports:
  • Commissioner Benedicto reported on attendances (swearing-in of Commissioner Scott, Women’s History Month events), progress on DGO 6.16, district boundary analysis meetings with community groups, and commitment to agendize boundary discussion before final action.
  • Commissioner Yañez requested agenda items: presentation on HSOC coordination/SFPD efforts at 16th St BART, update on community policing reports (last submitted over 3 years ago), and language access listening sessions (with bilingual officers and community).
• Department General Orders (DGOS) Adopted (all unanimous 7-0 with 45-day implementation periods):
  • DGO 1.06 (Duties of Commissioned Officers) – revised and adopted.
  • DGO 1.07 (Duties of Command Officers/Field Operations Bureau) – rescinded as overlapping with new 1.06.
  • DGO 2.07 (Discipline Process for Sworn Members) – revised and adopted.
  • DGO 3.10 (Serious Incident Review Board) – revised and adopted after negotiations.
  • DGO 5.13 (Diplomatic Immunity) – revised and adopted.
• DGO 6.10 (Missing Persons): Inspector Tony Flores presented major updates (first revision since 1999). Highlights: definition of at-risk individuals, updated checklist, alignment with penal code, expanded guidance on parental abduction and foster children. Approved for meet and confer with bargaining units (unanimous 7-0). Commissioner Yañez noted a cross-reference to outdated DGO 7.01 (juvenile handling), but the commission agreed to advance, expecting 7.01 to be updated concurrently.

Key Outcomes

• All votes were unanimous (7-0) on every motion.
• DGO items 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 were adopted with a 45-day implementation period.
• DGO 6.10 was approved for meet and confer.
• Items to be agendized in future meetings: presentation on the March 19 protest arrests and DA charging decision; community policing annual reports; language access listening sessions (to be scheduled); presentation on HSOC/BART coordination; further discussion on station boundary redistricting.
• Public comment period for district boundary analysis remains open past May 20; no action is finalized.
• Commission voted unanimously (7-0) to go into closed session (Item 17) and subsequently voted not to disclose the closed session discussion.
• The overview of the Chief’s report included detailed crime statistics: overall crime down 32% year-over-year, 32% reduction from 2024, gun violence up 7%, 4 homicides (down from 5 last year), clearance rates above national averages for burglary and homicide.