Supervisors hear advocates and SFPD on strained Special Victims Unit staffing; committee continues hearing to chair’s call

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee held a hearing on May 8 to examine staffing, policies and operational practices of the San Francisco Police Department’s Special Victims Unit (SVU). The hearing, requested by Supervisor Myrna Melgar, gathered presentations from city officials, SFPD leadership and community advocates and concluded with the committee continuing the item to the call of the chair for follow‑up.

"Four years ago, there were 70 investigators in this unit. Today, there are 29," Supervisor Myrna Melgar said in opening remarks, framing the hearing around a steep decline in SVU staffing and the impacts on victims and survivors. Melgar said the hearing seeks to “center survivors” and to explore how the city can better support investigators so cases move forward without retraumatizing victims.

Ivy Lee, director of the Mayor’s Office for Victim and Witness Rights, described the office’s role as an ombuds and urged a systems approach. Lee summarized the Family Violence Council’s findings and noted the gap between calls for service and cases that reach prosecution: "6658 DV calls to 911 ... 1,167 cases are presented to the DA; 492…