Police department to accept donated office space and equipment for real‑time investigation center with limited future‑gift authority

The Budget and Finance Committee on July 23 approved two resolutions authorizing the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to accept donated office space and equipment to support the department’s Real‑Time Investigation Center (RTIC). Committee members also amended the resolutions to limit delegated acceptance authority for future gifts to facility‑related needs while the RTIC occupies 315 Montgomery Street.

The committee approved the items after an extended discussion about data security, future procurement, and the logistics of a temporary downtown location. The donated package comes through the San Francisco Police Community Foundation and is ultimately funded by donations from Ripple Labs: an in‑kind sublease of floor space valued at approximately $2.1 million (available through Dec. 31, 2026) and equipment, services and funds valued at about $7.2 million to support RTIC operations, including fiber Internet installation, docks and drones, software and integration services, and parking fees.

Commander Tom McGuire, who leads the SFPD Investigations Bureau, said the RTIC — stood up after Proposition E passed — “has proven very successful” in contributing to declines in Part I crime and has been used for felony arrests, pursuit management, locating missing persons, and providing live information to officers in the field. He described the space at 315 Montgomery as a “bridge facility” while the department and city real‑estate staff identify a permanent location; occupancy at Montgomery is planned through Dec. 31, 2026, with the RTIC anticipated to move to a permanent facility by Jan. 1, 2027.

Budget and Legislative Analyst staff and the committee queried the department about two issues: (1) the practicalities and cost of moving twice in an 18‑month period and whether better city planning could have produced a longer‑term solution, and (2) the risks of accepting proprietary or sole‑source technology via donations and the potential for long‑term vendor dependence. The BLA noted that staying in the Financial District after 2027 could be significantly more expensive than relocating to municipal options such as the Pacific Center.

Committee members pressed SFPD to document building tenants at 315 Montgomery, confirm physical and cybersecurity safeguards, and explain how donated equipment would be maintained and integrated with the department’s systems. Commander McGuire and Chief Financial Officer Kimmy Woo said SFPD’s CIO and IT staff had vetted the proffered systems and that the department expects to manage cybersecurity, access control and training internally.

After discussion, Deputy City Attorney Brad Russy read an amendment limiting future delegated acceptance to gifts that support the RTIC while it is located at 315 Montgomery. The amendment (adopted by the committee) authorizes the department to accept and expend future gifts from the Police Community Foundation “for facilities, costs, and software and technological equipment to support the RTIC as long as it’s located at 315 Montgomery, including but not limited to funds for the installation of card readers, moving expenses, technological upgrades, Internet services, and additional facilities costs.” Committee members said the restriction is intended to enable rapid setup and necessary facility work at the temporary site while preserving Board oversight for future, long‑term acquisitions and policies.

The committee voted 3‑0 to forward the items to the full Board with a positive recommendation as amended. The clerk said the department will return to the Board for any permanent lease following the city’s real estate and budget processes.

Key quotes from the record: “This site at 315 Montgomery is designed to be a bridge facility to get us where we need to be,” Commander Tom McGuire said.

“I'm going to be an enthusiastic supporter of it, but I'm hesitant to create a rule for one department and then somebody's next going to say, ‘Why are we creating an exception?’” Vice Chair Matt Dorsey said while urging limits on open delegation.

Ending: The committee approved the sublease and equipment gifts and imposed a targeted scope on delegated gift acceptance to support RTIC facilities while the unit occupies 315 Montgomery; the items now proceed to the full Board of Supervisors.