Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Special Meeting - June 19, 2020: Police Misconduct Hiring Resolution
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Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Special Meeting - June 19, 2020
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee held a special meeting on June 19, 2020 (Juneteenth) to consider a resolution urging the Civil Service Commission to disqualify police officer and sheriff deputy applicants with prior serious misconduct. The meeting was chaired by Vice Chair Catherine Stefani and included Supervisors Shamann Walton and Ahsha Safai. District Attorney Chesa Boudin joined as a co-sponsor. The committee voted unanimously to forward the resolution to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration on June 23, 2020.
Public Comments & Testimony
- First caller (physician and voting member): Expressed support for the resolution but cautioned that it is a small step that should not replace larger, more controversial reforms such as defunding the police. Urged the committee to pursue substantial changes alongside this measure.
- Second caller (Mimi Klausner, 35-year resident): Voiced strong support for the resolution but argued it does not go far enough. Called for a "grandfather clause" to remove current SFPD officers with prior misconduct in other jurisdictions and advocated for defunding the police department. Cited the case of Officer Joshua Cabillo, who was involved in shootings after being hired by SFPD despite a prior incident.
Discussion Items
- Resolution (File 200592): Introduced by Supervisor Walton and co-sponsored by eight other supervisors plus Supervisor Safai (added during the meeting). The resolution urges the Civil Service Commission to adopt rules disqualifying applicants for uniformed positions in the San Francisco Police Department or Sheriff's Office if they have:
- A sustained finding or two unsustained complaints of serious misconduct (including excessive force, racial bias, sexual assault, discrimination, or dishonesty) from any law enforcement agency, after investigation and appeal; or
- Resigned or retired during a pending disciplinary proceeding for alleged serious misconduct.
- Supervisor Walton framed the resolution as a response to systemic racism and the murder of George Floyd, noting that the officer who killed Floyd had 18 prior complaints. District Attorney Boudin highlighted the difficulty of accessing misconduct records under California law and stressed that the policy would close the loophole of officers leaving agencies under investigation. Supervisor Safai called the resolution a "no-brainer" and emphasized codifying existing best practices.
- The committee acknowledged that the resolution is a first step; Supervisor Walton noted that if the Civil Service Commission does not act, a charter amendment for a future ballot may be pursued.
Key Outcomes
- Motion passed unanimously (3-0) to file the resolution as a committee report and forward it to the full Board of Supervisors for a vote on June 23, 2020. The motion was made by Supervisor Walton and seconded by Vice Chair Stefani; all three members (Walton, Safai, Stefani) voted aye.
- The resolution now goes to the Board of Supervisors with the recommendation of the committee. No other business was conducted; the meeting was adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the June 19th, 2020 special meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. I'm Supervisor Catherine Stephanie, Vice Chair of the Committee. I am joined by Supervisor Walton and Supervisor Safai, who was appointed in place of Supervisor Mandelman for today's special meeting. The clerk is John Carroll, and I'd like to thank SFWTV as well as Board of Supervisors Operations for lending their support for this meeting. Mr. Clerk, having announced Yes, thank you, Madam Vice Chair. In order to protect board members, city employees, and the public during the COVID-19 health emergency, the Board of Supervisors Legislative Chamber and Committee Room are closed. This precaution is taken pursuant to all various local, state, and federal orders, declarations, and directives. Committee members will attend the meeting through video conference and participate in the meeting to the same extent as if they were physically present. Public comment will be available for each item on this agenda. Both San Francisco Cable Channel 26 and SFgovTV.org are streaming a public comment call-in number across the screen. Comments or opportunities to speak during the public comment period are available via phone by calling 415 65501. Once connected and prompted, enter the meeting ID for today's meeting. The meeting ID is 145187 2784. After you've dialed that number, you will press uh pound and then press pound again to be connected to our meeting. Once you're connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you will be muted and in a listening mode. When your item of interest comes up, dial star, followed by three to be added to the speaker line. Best practices are to call from a quiet location, speak clearly and slowly, and turn down your television, your radio, or your streaming device. Everyone should account for time delays and speaking discrepancies between the live coverage and the streaming. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in either of the following ways. You can email me, John Carroll. I'm the clerk of the public safety and neighborhood services committee, and my email address is J-O-H-N, period C A R R O L L at SFGO V dot O R G. If you submit public comment via email, it will be included in the legislative file as part of the matter. Your written comments may also be sent by U.S. Postal Service to our office in City Hall. The address is one Dr. Carlton B. Goodlick Place, room 244 in San Francisco, California. The zip code is 94102. And finally, items acted upon today would appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of June 30th unless otherwise stated. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Colleagues, unfortunately, Chair Mandelman is not able to be here today. I'd like to make a motion to excuse Chair Mandelman. Mr. Clerk, please call the call. On the motion offered by Vice Chair Stephanie to excuse Chair Mandelman from today's proceedings. Member Walton. Walton I. Temporary member Safai. Aye. Safai I. Vice Chair Stephanie. Aye. Stephanie I, Madam Vice Chair, there are three eyes. Thank you. And Mr. Clerk, will you please call the first item?
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