march 2024 primary
Yes On Prop E
Police Department Policies and Procedures
This measure refocuses the police in San Francisco, getting them away from desks and back onto the streets. SFPD is hamstrung by the ideology of political bodies like the Police Commission, and it affects officers ability to solve cases. This measure aims to fix that by giving SFPD access to modern law enforcement tools that other police departments have used for years. Because less time behind a desk means more time spent on the street keeping the public safe.
ENDORSEMENT TEMPERATURE: FINALLY.
The Context
This is a broad measure that touches a lot of different aspects of our police force—but there are a lot of issues within SFPD, so we need this kind of extensive update. Mayor London Breed’s measure would enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of SFPD by cutting bureaucratic administrative work, while also giving the police access to 21st century technology that other modern police forces have used for years. Administratively, it would streamline existing reporting and recordkeeping requirements, reduce the time police officers spend on paperwork, and make sure the public has input on any new changes to policing the Police Commission proposes. Technology-wise, it would allow SFPD to use drones in active investigations and engage in vehicle pursuits from the air, instead of risking life and property by having officers chase suspects. The measure also streamlines requirements for installing new public safety cameras—these cameras, like every other piece of the department’s technology, currently need to go through a six-to-nine-month review and approval process.
These changes are only necessary because SFPD has been hamstrung for decades by the ideology of political bodies like the Police Commission, and it impacts officer’s ability to solve crimes. We need a responsive, compassionate police force in San Francisco, but individual commissioners on the Police Commission and other ideological adversaries limit SFPD’s capacity to maintain public safety. As the city faces rising crime and brazen drug dealing, there's a pressing need for more officers on the streets due to a staffing shortage—we can’t afford to let officers that could be on patrol sit behind desks filling out unnecessary paperwork.
Does this solve all policing issues in the city? Nope. Does it fix everything wrong with the Police Commission? Definitely not. But it removes some critical blockers, and it’s a step towards creating a modern police force in San Francisco.
The Support & Opposition
Support comes from measure author Mayor London Breed and other public safety advocates on the Board of Supervisors: Catherine Stefani, Matt Dorsey, and Joel Engardio.
Notable opponents include Mayoral candidate and Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, along with members of the Police Commission including Max Carter-Oberstone, who called the measure a “rushed and scattershot proposal.”
Anything Else I Should Know?
The Mayor, who authored this measure, has said that overlapping priorities and policies have slowed down the police department and this measure is needed to cut some of the red tape SFPD has to deal with. To make sure that future proposals developed by the Police Commission will actually work in the real world, this measure will impose a standardized, 90-day community feedback session where business owners, residents, and public safety experts can all hear how policy proposals may affect them. This kind of transparency currently doesn’t exist—right now people can only provide input after the Police Commission begins working on a policy.
This measure also updates the Police Commission’s vehicle pursuit policy to let officers use their discretion when pursuing suspected criminals. Currently, officers can only use their car to pursue a person fleeing in a vehicle if they believe the suspect committed a violent felony or they pose an immediate risk to the public. That’s pretty limiting for SFPD—this update would let an officer pursue someone they saw break into a car or garage.
Paid for by TogetherSF Action (tsfaction.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.