DPA reports backlog and audits update; Police Commission advances updated Missing Persons DGO to meet-and-confer

The Department of Police Accountability (DPA) reported to the Police Commission on April 2 that the office had opened 47 new investigations since the last meeting and closed 58 cases. Executive Director Paul Henderson summarized DPA’s ongoing audits and investigations, including an update on the office’s pending use-of-force audit and the agency’s effort to capture ‘policy failure’ trends for future recommendations.

DPA caseload and audits

Henderson told commissioners that DPA currently has 91 cases pending with the chief, two cases pending with the commission, and 15 investigations open longer than 270 days — 13 of which are in a subpoena (tolling) status; two remaining long-duration cases are expected to be provided to DPA by the end of the week. Henderson said the department asked for an extension on the use-of-force audit and the new deadline is April 7. He also said DPA is preparing a brief report that will describe trends and “policy failure” outcomes uncovered in DPA investigations.

Missing persons DGO and checklist

Inspector Tony Flores and department staff presented revisions to DGO 6.01, Missing Persons. Flores said the prior policy dated to 1999 and the draft includes eight major updates: added definitions (including an “at‑risk individual”), updated Penal Code references and timelines, a field checklist for officers, clarified guidance for parental abductions and children missing from care settings, and a 24‑hour outside‑jurisdiction notification requirement. Commissioners praised the checklist approach and asked about cross-references to other DGOs (for example, DGO 7.01 on juvenile procedures); the department and DPA said they would coordinate language where necessary. The commission approved DGO 6.01 for use in meet‑and‑confer with bargaining units and instructed the department to begin meet‑and‑confer procedures.

Language access and outreach

Henderson and commissioners also discussed limited-English-proficiency (LEP) work groups that DPA convened with community providers and the department. DPA said it will publish findings from those focus groups and is coordinating with SFPD’s newly restructured policy and public affairs unit to designate an LEP liaison. Commissioners pressed for broader outreach and for DPA to consider trainings with partner agencies (311 and Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs) so complaint routing is clearer to community members.

Records delays and procedural clarifications

Henderson answered a commissioner’s question about a DPA case that exceeded 270 days and said delays were caused by the need to obtain large volumes of records and the involvement of multiple officers, which paused statutory timelines. The director agreed to provide a case-level accounting to the commission to explain that delay and said DPA will continue to track longer-duration cases.

Ending

Commissioners asked for additional updates on the use-of-force audit and on quarterly stop-data follow-ups; they also agreed to fold certain audit follow-ups into ongoing commission audit-liaison work. Following the meeting, the commission approved the missing-persons DGO for meet-and-confer; final adoption will depend on meet-and-confer outcomes where required.