OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Francisco Police Commission Meeting - July 15, 2026

Police Commission — Wednesday, July 15, 2026
BodySan Francisco, California
SessionPolice Commission
DateWednesday, July 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:06:07

Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

President Clay would like to take roll.

0:10

Commissioner Lowe.

0:12

Here.

0:12

Commissioner Scott is excused.

0:14

Commissioner Leo.

0:15

Here.

0:15

Commissioner Benedicto.

0:16

Here.

0:17

Commissioner Lyons is in route.

0:18

Vice President Techie?

0:19

Yeah.

0:20

President Clay, you have a quorum.

0:22

Also with us tonight are Chief Derek Lou from the San Francisco Police Department and Executive Director Paul Henderson from the Department of Police Accountability.

0:28

All right, thank you, Sergeant.

0:29

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our July 15th meeting, where we begin the meeting, Sergeant.

0:34

Line item one, weekly officer recognition certificate.

0:37

Presentation of an officer who has gone above and beyond in the performance of their duties.

0:40

Officer Kevin O'Donnell, star number 4028, the strategic investigations unit.

0:54

Good evening.

0:55

Uh Commissioner President Clay, Chief Liu, Director Henderson.

0:59

My name is Steve Jonas.

1:01

Um I have the pleasure of being a captain of the San Francisco Police Department and the privilege of being the commanding officer of the Strategic Investigations Unit, which includes our real-time investigation center and our Phoenix drone unit.

1:15

I'm here tonight to recognize Kevin O'Donnell for his sustained dedication, reliability, and exceptional operational contributions as a founding member of the Department's patrol drone team, and now as a full-time drone as first responder operator assigned to the real-time investigation center.

1:34

Officer O'Donnell played a key role in shaping the early development of the patrol drone team.

1:39

From the outset, Officer O'Donnell demonstrated an immediate and genuine commitment to emerging technologies that improve officer safety, enhance public safety, and increase efficiency during rapidly evolving incidents.

1:52

His belief in the mission of the drone program has consistently been reflected in his willingness to make himself available for patrol support at all hours, his focus on victim-centered response, and his steady, composed presence during high pressure deployments.

2:08

Officer O'Donnell continues to serve as a core leader within the drone's first responder unit.

2:13

He's consistently the first to arrive and the last to leave, and every member of the unit has come to rely on him for his dependability.

2:21

Whether it's being called in at 3 a.m.

2:23

on a Saturday to support a high-risk search warrant or assisting with community demonstrations for school groups, Officer O'Donnell responds without hesitation.

2:32

During June of 2026, Officer O'Donnell supported several significant incidents, including on June 1st, Officer O'Donnell was at home and off-duty after working his full shift when Officer Brittany Taylor was shot.

2:45

Kevin immediately returned to work and was the first operator to arrive at Arctic in support of the response, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the unit and the department.

2:55

On June 16th, following an ALPR alert for a stolen vehicle, Officer O'Donnell located the car traveling westbound on Turk and Larkin and coordinated with patrol units to approach safely.

3:07

When the car fled, he maintained aerial tracking until the suspect abandoned the still-moving car and fled on foot, allowing patrol units to apprehend the driver after a brief pursuit.

3:19

On June 17th, Officer O'Donnell provided aerial support when patrol located an attempted kidnapping suspect involving with a juvenile victim.

3:28

On June 18th, Officer O'Donnell conducted drone operations in support of a community violence reduction team search warrant in Oakland related to a robbery and shooting suspect.

3:38

And on June 28th, Officer O'Donnell supported the high-profile arrest of multiple robbery suspects.

3:44

In all these deployments, Officer O'Donnell maintained composure, precision, and a steady operational presence.

3:51

His accurate real-time observations consistently assist ground units in making informed tactical decisions.

3:58

Officer O'Donnell's conduct reflects professionalism, dedication to duty, and a consistent commitment to the mission of the real-time investigation center and the drone's first responder program.

4:09

His sustained contributions positively impact public safety, support investigative operations, and strengthen the department's ability to respond effectively to complex incidents.

4:20

So, Officer Kevin O'Donnell, it's my pleasure to present you with this certificate designating you as the officer of the week in recognition of your dedication and professionalism demonstrated through outstanding community policing practices and inspiring greatness by exemplifying the ideals of police officers as guardians of our community.

4:39

Such an example of dedication is worthy of the highest esteem by the city and county of San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department.

4:46

Congratulations, Captain.

4:48

Thank you.

4:55

Thank you guys very much for having me up here.

4:57

I really appreciate it.

5:00

None of this work would be uh able to be done without the DFR team that I work with every day.

5:05

They work as tirelessly as any one of us.

5:08

I have great supervisors.

5:09

Um they they show up just as much as I do.

5:12

They do everything, uh the same hours, all that stuff.

5:14

They come in early, they can leave late, the same thing.

5:17

Uh also we wouldn't be successful in our program if patrol wouldn't, you know, work with us too, and everybody else and the rest of the police department that helps us when we locate suspects and do that stuff.

5:28

They go out and make the arrests and they do truly the hard work.

5:31

So without them, we wouldn't be able to be successful and do what we do every day.

5:35

So truly this is uh I appreciate it, but it belongs to everybody else in the police department.

5:40

Thank you.

5:44

So, Officer O'Donnelly, wait a minute here.

5:47

So uh we want to thank you for your service.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Technology and Innovation██████████████████18%
Police Oversight██████████████14%
Community Engagement████████████12%
Personnel Matters███████████11%
Technology And Infrastructure█████████9%
Public Health███████7%
Public Safety█████5%
Pending Litigation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

San Francisco Police Commission Meeting - July 15, 2026

The San Francisco Police Commission held its regular meeting on July 15, 2026, at the Public Safety Building. Key topics included officer recognition, crime statistics, drone security concerns, TransMarch incident follow-up, and approval of a temporary modified duty policy.

Consent Calendar

  • Received and filed the following gifts: China Basin Ballpark Company, LLC in-kind gift of Oracle Park venue space valued at $45,500 for police recruiting; San Francisco Police Community Foundation gift of $3 million for real-time investigation center technology; and San Francisco Police Community Foundation gift of $103,750 for the O2X Wellness Initiative and Officer Wellness Program.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Amelia (District 9 resident, individual, direct service provider with street crisis response team) expressed support for peer counselors and concern over their removal, citing successful collaborations with officers. She stated: "To the officers that called for peer intervention when a half dozen sworn staff couldn't make someone drop a bat, thank you."
  • Scott Burrell (member of public) urged the commission to direct the department to provide a Luby hearing (due process hearing) to a dismissed recruit, stating she was dismissed without afforded due process.
  • Paul Chignell (retired SFPD captain, Police Officers Association legal defense administrator) supported Burrell's comments, stating the department's rationale for termination was unsupported and requested a due process hearing. He noted the historic Luby decision and the commission's authority under Charter Sections 4.109 and 8.343.
  • Zachary Schwartz (member of public, DF LOC SF) criticized SFPD's use of Flock automated license plate readers, alleging hidden expansions, data breaches in 2024 and 2025, and potential violation of California Civil Code 1798.90.55 (data sharing with out-of-state agencies). He requested an independent audit and an update on the internal inquiry into the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center leak.
  • Additional public comment on Chief's report: Two speakers criticized the department's response during the TransMarch, questioning the accuracy of the letter of inquiry (number of officers, characterization of intervention) and expressing concerns about drone surveillance and its role in escalating the event. One speaker noted the loss of peer counselors from the Fire Department's Street Crisis Response Team would affect police work.

Discussion Items

  • Officer Recognition (Weekly Officer Recognition Certificate): Captain Steve Jonas recognized Officer Kevin O'Donnell (star 4028) of the Strategic Investigations Unit for exceptional performance as a drone operator. O'Donnell was commended for his role in several incidents in June 2026, including responding after an officer was shot, tracking suspect vehicles, and supporting warrant operations. Commissioners praised the drone program's impact on public safety, force multiplication, and risk mitigation. Chief Liu noted over 600 arrests assisted by the Phoenix drone program.
  • Chief's Report: Chief Derek Liu reported weekly crime trends as of July 12, 2026:
    • Overall Part 1 crimes down 21% year-to-date compared to 2025.
    • Violent crimes down 10%; homicides up (16 vs. 13 last year).
    • Gun violence (persons killed/injured by firearm) down 16%.
    • Rapes down 16%; assaults down 2%; assaults by firearm down 27%; robberies down 20%; robberies with firearm down 24%.
    • Human trafficking down 7% (13 incidents vs. 14).
    • Property crimes down 22%; burglaries down 26%; motor vehicle theft down 26%; larceny theft down 21%.
    • Significant incidents: one non-fatal shooting (July 12), one self-inflicted shooting (July 7), no homicides; capsized vessel in the bay (one deceased).
    • Firearms seizures: 514 year-to-date.
    • Academy enrollment: two classes with 69 recruits (24 in 289th class graduating early 2026, 45 in 290th class).
    • Letter of inquiry sent to Supervisor Fielder regarding TransMarch.
    • Regarding the TransMarch town hall: Chief Liu stated he is amenable but postponed due to active investigations and pending court cases.
    • Responding to a Wired article about a drone URL security issue: Chief confirmed that no large-scale breach occurred, approximately 20 incidents were recorded over two days (all confirmed in policy), the link was immediately disabled, and new security measures are being implemented. He emphasized the department's balance of public safety and privacy.
  • DPA Director's Report: Executive Director Paul Henderson reported DPA activities: participation in One City Day, open investigations from TransMarch and Stud Alley events (several new individuals contacted DPA since last meeting), meeting with Office of Transgender Initiatives regarding anonymity in complaints, quarterly all-hand staff meeting, and weekly statistics (24 new cases, 17 closed; most common allegation: neglect of duty). He noted that DPA can be contacted anonymously.
  • Commission Reports: President Clay announced a promotional ceremony on August 13, 2026. Commissioner Benedicto requested continued community engagement on TransMarch, updates on Flock data issues, and noted an upcoming DPA audit on ALPR use.
  • Department General Order 1112 (Temporary Modified Duty): Penny C. (ADA coordinator) presented revisions to General Order 11.12. Changes include expanding eligibility to non-sworn employees, separating temporary modified duty from reasonable accommodation, allowing assignments at district stations, and adding new qualification exemptions and work attire rules. The order underwent public review (12 comments, 8 revisions).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar (gifts) received and filed (unanimous, 6-0).
  • Chief's report received and filed.
  • Department General Order 1112 approved (unanimous, 6-0).
  • Commission voted to hold item 10 in closed session (5-0, Commissioner Elias recused).
  • Commission voted not to disclose closed session discussion (5-0).
  • Meeting adjourned after closed session.

Meeting Transcript

President Clay would like to take roll. Commissioner Lowe. Here. Commissioner Scott is excused. Commissioner Leo. Here. Commissioner Benedicto. Here. Commissioner Lyons is in route. Vice President Techie? Yeah. President Clay, you have a quorum. Also with us tonight are Chief Derek Lou from the San Francisco Police Department and Executive Director Paul Henderson from the Department of Police Accountability. All right, thank you, Sergeant. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our July 15th meeting, where we begin the meeting, Sergeant. Line item one, weekly officer recognition certificate. Presentation of an officer who has gone above and beyond in the performance of their duties. Officer Kevin O'Donnell, star number 4028, the strategic investigations unit. Good evening. Uh Commissioner President Clay, Chief Liu, Director Henderson. My name is Steve Jonas. Um I have the pleasure of being a captain of the San Francisco Police Department and the privilege of being the commanding officer of the Strategic Investigations Unit, which includes our real-time investigation center and our Phoenix drone unit. I'm here tonight to recognize Kevin O'Donnell for his sustained dedication, reliability, and exceptional operational contributions as a founding member of the Department's patrol drone team, and now as a full-time drone as first responder operator assigned to the real-time investigation center. Officer O'Donnell played a key role in shaping the early development of the patrol drone team. From the outset, Officer O'Donnell demonstrated an immediate and genuine commitment to emerging technologies that improve officer safety, enhance public safety, and increase efficiency during rapidly evolving incidents. His belief in the mission of the drone program has consistently been reflected in his willingness to make himself available for patrol support at all hours, his focus on victim-centered response, and his steady, composed presence during high pressure deployments. Officer O'Donnell continues to serve as a core leader within the drone's first responder unit. He's consistently the first to arrive and the last to leave, and every member of the unit has come to rely on him for his dependability. Whether it's being called in at 3 a.m. on a Saturday to support a high-risk search warrant or assisting with community demonstrations for school groups, Officer O'Donnell responds without hesitation. During June of 2026, Officer O'Donnell supported several significant incidents, including on June 1st, Officer O'Donnell was at home and off-duty after working his full shift when Officer Brittany Taylor was shot. Kevin immediately returned to work and was the first operator to arrive at Arctic in support of the response, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the unit and the department. On June 16th, following an ALPR alert for a stolen vehicle, Officer O'Donnell located the car traveling westbound on Turk and Larkin and coordinated with patrol units to approach safely. When the car fled, he maintained aerial tracking until the suspect abandoned the still-moving car and fled on foot, allowing patrol units to apprehend the driver after a brief pursuit. On June 17th, Officer O'Donnell provided aerial support when patrol located an attempted kidnapping suspect involving with a juvenile victim. On June 18th, Officer O'Donnell conducted drone operations in support of a community violence reduction team search warrant in Oakland related to a robbery and shooting suspect. And on June 28th, Officer O'Donnell supported the high-profile arrest of multiple robbery suspects. In all these deployments, Officer O'Donnell maintained composure, precision, and a steady operational presence. His accurate real-time observations consistently assist ground units in making informed tactical decisions. Officer O'Donnell's conduct reflects professionalism, dedication to duty, and a consistent commitment to the mission of the real-time investigation center and the drone's first responder program. His sustained contributions positively impact public safety, support investigative operations, and strengthen the department's ability to respond effectively to complex incidents. So, Officer Kevin O'Donnell, it's my pleasure to present you with this certificate designating you as the officer of the week in recognition of your dedication and professionalism demonstrated through outstanding community policing practices and inspiring greatness by exemplifying the ideals of police officers as guardians of our community. Such an example of dedication is worthy of the highest esteem by the city and county of San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department. Congratulations, Captain. Thank you. Thank you guys very much for having me up here. I really appreciate it. None of this work would be uh able to be done without the DFR team that I work with every day. They work as tirelessly as any one of us. I have great supervisors.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com