San Francisco Police Commission Meeting – March 18, 2026

The San Francisco Police Commission met on March 18, 2026, at 1:45 PM (PT) to discuss crime trends, departmental reports, and policy revisions. The meeting began with an officer recognition, followed by public comments, a consent calendar, chief’s and DPA reports, commissioner reports, and adoption of two revised Department General Orders. Key topics included a 32% overall decrease in part-one crimes, a 233% increase in homicides year-to-date, updates on the disciplinary process, and the adoption of updated policies on plain-clothes officers and hate crimes.

Consent Calendar

• Line Item 3 – Receive and File Reports: The commission received and filed the Emergency Response and Pursuit Driving Annual Report 2025 (DGO 5.05) and the Enforcement of Immigration Laws Annual Report 2025 (DGO 5.15). No objections were raised. The motion passed unanimously (6-0).
• Line Item 4 – Adoption of Minutes: The minutes from the January 21, 2026 meeting were adopted unanimously (6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Public Comment (Line Item 2):
  • Dr. (name not given) – Resident of Tenderloin: Expressed concerns about drug activity and public safety on two blocks, citing over 30,000 requests to the city. Called for enforcement of existing laws and requested help from the police.
  • Paulette Brown – Mother of murder victim: Spoke about her son Aubrey Abracassa, murdered on August 14, 2006, with no justice. She urged the commission to implement a tipster program signed by Mayor Lurie and to publicize unsolved homicides. She also discussed her visits to jails to speak with inmates about the ripple effects of violence.
• Public Comment on Chief’s Report (Line Item 5):
  • Paulette Brown (again): Criticized the lack of ongoing community engagement after shootings and urged better use of tipster programs to solve homicides.
• Public Comment on DPA Report (Line Item 6):
  • Paul Chignell – Legal Defense Administrator, POA (retired SFPD captain): Offered to participate in future discussions on the disciplinary process. Noted that the Board of Supervisors had a committee meeting on police discipline the previous day and that most supervisors appeared to favor keeping the current system.
• Public Comment on Closed Session Items (Line Item 11): None.

Discussion Items

• Line Item 1 – Weekly Officer Recognition: Officer Alex Fayo (Taraval Station) was recognized for saving a juvenile who attempted suicide by jumping into a lake. The officer entered the water to rescue the young woman. Commissioners praised his bravery and humility. No public comment.
• Line Item 5 – Chief’s Report (Crime Trends): Chief Liu presented crime statistics as of March 15, 2026:
  • Overall part-one crimes down 32% year-to-date vs. 2025.
  • Violent crimes down 25%; homicides up 233% (10 homicides vs. 3 in 2025); 6 homicides involved firearms.
  • Gun violence (persons injured or killed by firearm) up 7%.
  • Robberies down 39%, burglaries down 36%, motor vehicle theft down 35%, auto burglaries down 35%.
  • Notable: 10 homicides year-to-date, 9 cleared by arrest.
  • Discussions on gun seizures: Chief noted the department seizes ~1,000 guns per year, with a decreasing trend in ghost guns due to regulation. Commissioner Scott requested more community education on reporting shootings and gun violence.
  • Public comment from Paulette Brown reiterated need for tipster program implementation.
• Line Item 6 – DPA Director’s Report: Director Henderson reported:
  • DPA completed full compliance with digital accessibility standards ahead of the April 2026 deadline.
  • Since the last meeting: 32 new cases opened, 179 total cases in 2026, 201 under investigation, 173 closed, 6 sustained, 4 mediated.
  • Cases over 270 days (tolled): 7 – the lowest in over 30 years.
  • Cases pending with SFPD: 67 (lowest ever under Henderson); 3 cases pending with the commission.
  • Discussion on disciplinary process: Chief Liu explained streamlined chief’s hearings (standardized letter, added commanders as hearing officers, regular monthly meetings) reduced pending hearings from ~100 to 49. Commissioner Benedicto requested a future agenda item to discuss the process, including education for officers and consistency of discipline. DPA and IAD agreed to a joint presentation. Public comment from POA’s Paul Chignell offered to contribute.
• Line Item 7 – Commissioner Reports: President Clay reported on the Chinese New Year Parade (March 7), Officer of the Month event (March 11), and Women’s Leadership Luncheon (March 18). Commissioner Benedicto added remarks on the parade and a Board of Supervisors meeting on police discipline. Commissioner Scott noted community outreach and encouraged continued support for victims’ families. Commissioner Leong praised the parade and luncheon. A motion was made to agendize a presentation on chief’s hearings, disciplinary backlog, and education efforts for the second or third week of April 2026.
• Line Item 8 – Serious Incident Review Board (SIRB) Q3 2025 Findings: Lieutenant Springer presented two incidents:
  1. OAS 23-002 (June 22, 2023): Officer-involved shooting where a subject armed with a knife advanced on the officer after a domestic disturbance. The officer fired, hitting the subject. The officer was found in policy on all use-of-force, treatment of injured persons, and mandatory debriefing recommendations.
  2. OID 25-002 (February 19, 2025): Accidental discharge of a department firearm in a locker room at SFO. No injuries. The officer was found not in policy / improper conduct for safe handling of a firearm. No in-custody deaths reviewed. No public comment.
• Line Item 9 – Adoption of Revised DGO 5.08 (Plain Clothes, Non-Uniformed, and Undercover Officers): Commissioner Benedicto moved adoption with a 45-business-day implementation timeline. The order had been updated for the first time since 1996. Motion passed unanimously (6-0). No public comment.
• Line Item 10 – Adoption of Revised DGO 6.13 (Hate Crimes): DPA Policy Director Jamal Anderson proposed a friendly amendment to add “after” to the language about bias evidence (narrative documenting bias motivation from statements/conduct before, during, or after the incident). Commissioner Benedicto moved adoption with a 30-business-day implementation timeline and the amendment. Motion passed unanimously (6-0). No public comment.
• Line Item 12 – Vote to Hold Closed Session: Motion passed unanimously (6-0) to go into closed session pursuant to Government Code §54957(b) and Administrative Code §67.10(b) and (d). No public comment on closed session items.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar items (DGO 5.05 and 5.09 reports) and January 21, 2026 minutes were approved unanimously.
• Revised DGO 5.08 (Plain Clothes/Undercover Officers) adopted unanimously with 45-business-day implementation.
• Revised DGO 6.13 (Hate Crimes) adopted unanimously with a 30-business-day implementation and an oral amendment adding “after” to the bias motivation narrative section.
• Future agenda item scheduled: Presentation on chief’s hearings, disciplinary backlog, and education efforts (including IAD and DPA sustained/unsustained statistics) for the second or third week of April 2026.
• The commission voted to hold item 13 in closed session; no disclosure of closed session discussion was voted on (the transcript ends before that vote).