Police commission elevates Officer Riley Bandys award to gold medal of valor

The San Francisco Police Commission on Oct. 11 accepted the awards committees recommendations and approved elevating Officer Riley Bandys medal from silver to gold.

Commissioner Mazuko moved to elevate the award after describing the awards process and saying he and the chief believed the officers actions merited a higher honor. Chief William Scott recounted Bandys July 8, 2016 off-duty intervention in Oakland, saying the officer noticed a suspect pointing what appeared to be a rifle at a civilian, identified himself as an officer and chased the suspect until Oakland police arrived. "Officer Bandy continued to chase the suspect knowing that he was armed and that he himself had no way to defend himself," Chief Scott said.

Chief Scott told commissioners that Bandy tackled the suspect after the suspect discarded the rifle and assisted Oakland officers in taking the person into custody. The chief also noted the Oakland Police Department awarded Bandy a silver medal for that departments recognition.

President Turman amended a motion so the commission could take up the full slate of awards and simultaneously act on the Bandy elevation. The motion to accept the awards committees recommendations with the single exception elevating Officer Riley Bandy to a gold medal carried by voice vote.

The commission did not record roll-call vote tallies for individual members in the public record at the meeting; the action was taken by voice vote during the meeting. The awards committee matter was taken up early in the agenda after President Turman moved item 4 ahead of item 3.

The commission will incorporate the medal change into its awards records and follow the commissions established recognition procedures.