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Board honors Chief Bill Scott as he prepares to depart; supervisors cite DOJ compliance and falling crime rates
Summary
Supervisors praised Chief Bill Scott at a June 3 Board of Supervisors meeting, highlighting the department's progress on reform and compliance findings by the Department of Justice and the California DOJ, and noting citywide declines in several crime categories during his tenure.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors used part of its June 3 meeting to formally recognize San Francisco Police Department Chief William "Bill" Scott ahead of his final day on June 22. Supervisors across the political spectrum praised Scott's leadership, credited the department's reform progress during his tenure and read out statistics on declining crime that were cited by the board president.
Board President Mandelmann opened the remarks by recounting Scott's hiring in January 2017 and the challenges that followed, including a U.S. Department of Justice review and a period of heightened public scrutiny. Mandelmann cited a California Department of Justice finding, announced in January 2025, that the SFPD was in compliance with 97% of recommendations from the DOJ review, and said that achievement fulfilled the mission for which Scott was hired.
"He accomplished the monumental mission for which he was hired," Mandelmann said, noting in the chamber's record that from 2017 to 2024 "crime across all categories dropped 42%" and that motor vehicle thefts had fallen by "43%" year over year. Mandelmann also said homicides in the city were the lowest in six decades — remarks he attributed to the city's statistics during Scott's tenure.
Supervisor Dorsey and others praised Scott's steadiness during high-profile national events, including the COVID‑19 pandemic and the George Floyd protests. Supervisor Walton said Scott "worked hard to make change while keeping the city safe" and called his leadership "graceful." Several supervisors emphasized Scott's emphasis on reform, community relationships and interagency collaboration.
Scott accepted the board's commendation and emphasized teamwork. "I want to say thank you, first of all, to my wife and my son... To all the members of the SFPD, they do the work. And it's an honor to lead it," he said. Scott noted he plans to bring lessons from San Francisco to his next role and said he will remain connected to the city.
The board's remarks combined ceremonial thanks with policy references: the president referenced the departmental reforms and DOJ/CaDOJ oversight milestones, supervisors highlighted community policing efforts such as the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center and neighborhood partnerships, and multiple speakers described Scott's efforts to maintain both reform momentum and public safety.
Ending: The board's public commendation formally recorded Scott's upcoming departure and the department's progress under his leadership; any future policy or staffing changes will depend on the city, the mayor's office and the police commission as they identify and confirm his successor.
