Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Reform topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
California attorney general partners with San Francisco to continue police reform oversight
Summary
The California Department of Justice and San Francisco announced a memorandum of understanding to provide independent review of the city's police reforms after the federal DOJ stepped back; Attorney General Javier Becerra and city leaders pledged continued oversight and implementation of the DOJ's recommendations.
City and state leaders on Feb. 7 announced a memorandum of understanding that will have the California Department of Justice provide independent review and technical assistance to the San Francisco Police Department’s reform efforts.
Attorney General Javier Becerra told a packed chamber the agreement responds to the federal Department of Justice’s decision to halt its collaborative reform work and that state involvement will provide "independent eyes" to ensure implementation, accountability and transparency. "We picked up the ball, and we're gonna run with it," Becerra said.
Mayor and city officials, joined by Chief Bill Scott, Board President London Breed and Supervisor Malia Cohen, praised the long-running reform effort. Chief Scott highlighted progress in several areas, noting a reported 18 percent drop in uses of force in 2017 and a 9 percent decrease in citizen complaints. He said the California DOJ will provide technical assistance and an independent assessment of the reforms already underway, including policy revisions, bias-mitigation work and body-camera rollout.
Board President London Breed and Supervisor Malia Cohen recalled the city’s prior engagement with the federal review that produced 272 recommendations and said they would work with the state to continue that implementation locally.
Members of the public and press asked about which investigations the state or county would lead; Chief Scott said criminal investigations of officer-involved shootings were being negotiated with the District Attorney’s Office and the MOU language to address that issue was in meet-and-confer. Becerra said the state will "find the resources to make it happen" and emphasized the goal of sustaining independent oversight even if federal support has ended.
What happens next: the commission will calendar the MOU for discussion; matters requiring the commission’s approval will be brought back for formal consideration, and the city and state will begin operational work under the terms of the MOU.
