Board approves ordinance allowing precinct-level neighborhood property crime units; debate over scope and ballot measure continues

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed, on first reading, an ordinance to create neighborhood property-crime units based at district police stations, after a lengthy debate about whether staffing, scope and centralization should be handled by the board or voters.

Supervisor Yee introduced the ordinance, saying the city should "not be known as the city of break-ins" and that the measure would allow district captains to dedicate staff to data-driven property-crime trends in their precincts. The board accepted amendments from Yee to require improved coordination "among different divisions on the tip of the department, including but not limited to the patrol borough task force and the crime analysis unit," and to require "streamlining the sharing of information and data with other city departments responsible for law enforcement, including the district attorney's office." The amendments were accepted without objection.

Supporters, including Supervisor Campos and Supervisor Kim, said the ordinance preserves community policing by keeping officers and resources within local precincts so they can build relationships with residents and businesses. Campos cited data presented at a prior hearing showing a low arrest rate for car break-ins — "in 2015 there were 25,000 car break-ins and arrests in only 2% of those break-ins," he said — and argued that redeployment, not just increased hiring, is needed to change outcomes.

Opponents, including Supervisor Wiener and Supervisor Cohen, said the ordinance is a pared-down alternative to a pending ballot measure (commonly known in the record as Prop R). Wiener said the version before the board had been "gutted" relative to the ballot language, removing references to non-property quality-of-life offenses and dropping the prior requirement for a staffing percentage tied to full authorized staffing. Cohen said the ordinance’s focus on property crime alone "is where you lose me," arguing that the ballot measure's broader focus on quality-of-life crimes better matches neighborhood concerns.

Deputy City Attorney John Gibner cautioned supervisors about discussing the ballot measure in advocacy terms and said that, if the board adopts the ordinance and voters also adopt Prop R, "both of them can go into effect" and the department would have to work out the operational details. He added that where the two conflict, the ballot measure would prevail.

The roll call vote on the ordinance as amended was 7 ayes and 4 noes, with Supervisors Campos, Cohen, Farrell, Kim, Mar, Peskin, Yi, Avalos and Breed recorded in various positions during debate; final recorded ayes were Campos, Kim, Mar, Peskin, Yi, Avalos and Breed; no votes were cast by Cohen, Farrell, Tang and Wiener. The board recorded the ordinance as passed on first reading.

The ordinance requires district captains discretion to dedicate staffing to property-crime units and mandates coordination and information-sharing with other city departments; specific staffing levels and detailed operational plans were not set in the ordinance and remain subject to department implementation and any subsequent board action or ballot outcome.

Supporters said the localized units would help increase arrests and deterrence in problems such as auto break-ins and bike thefts. Critics said the ordinance eliminates elements that would direct officers to partner with health and human services or to address threatening or harassing street behavior. Several supervisors urged a separate process to evaluate police staffing and noted an upcoming proposal to create a police staffing task force.

The ordinance will return for a second reading; supervisors and the interim police leadership also discussed the need to coordinate the ordinance's implementation with any action stemming from the ballot measure and with future staffing increases.