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Mayor announces William 'Bill' Scott as San Francisco's next police chief
Summary
At a Jan. 11 Police Commission meeting, the mayor named William (Bill) Scott, a 27-year LAPD veteran, as San Francisco's new police chief, citing his experience implementing reforms. Scott said he will work with community and officers to carry out DOJ-driven changes.
The mayor announced at the San Francisco Police Commission meeting on Jan. 11 that William "Bill" Scott, a 27-year deputy chief with the Los Angeles Police Department, has been chosen as the city's next police chief.
The mayor told the commission the search considered internal and external candidates and that Scott’s experience leading reform efforts in a department that recently worked with the U.S. Department of Justice made him the preferred choice. "It is my pleasure to announce that... William Bill Scott," the mayor said.
Scott, who introduced himself to the meeting and was joined by family, said he would emphasize partnerships with communities and support for rank-and-file officers. "Any successful police department has to be a partnership between the community, the officers... and the chief," Scott said, adding he looks forward to meeting department personnel and to ‘‘work with the talent that’s inside the department.’’
The mayor framed the appointment as part of a continuing reform effort following the DOJ collaborative-reform roadmap for San Francisco. The mayor said Scott has operational and administrative experience in a large, urban bureau and has led efforts to implement reform in places where DOJ involvement demanded structural change.
Scott said he would listen and act where appropriate, stressing consistency and fairness in his approach. He told the commission that his priority is to give officers the resources and support they need to do their jobs while advancing policy changes the city requires.
The commission and the mayor described the selection as a step to accelerate reform and rebuild trust. The mayor introduced Scott to the audience and invited questions; Scott responded to queries about gaining buy-in from officers and handling departmental culture by pointing to the need for steady leadership, clear support for officers, and ongoing engagement with community stakeholders.
The appointment follows a months-long nationwide search and community engagement process; the mayor and commission said more details about Scott's start date and transition plan would follow through official channels.
