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Residents press commission for accountability and urge removal of chief amid texts and shootings
Summary
More than two dozen public commenters criticized the SFPD for racist texts, called for stronger discipline and independent investigations, urged rejection of tasers and asked the commission to enforce transparency; speakers noted fear in Bayview and requested action on the mayor's $17.5M reform proposal.
Dozens of residents urged the San Francisco Police Commission on May 11 to take stronger action on officer misconduct, discipline and transparency in the wake of racist text messages and high-profile police shootings.
Several public speakers recounted fear and anger in neighborhoods such as Bayview and called explicitly for removal or resignation of the police chief. Miss Hariri Sari, co-director of the Idris Elle Foundation and a Bayview resident, told commissioners the community "does not feel safe" after a text and public statements describing an officer who "joined the department to kill." Alan Schlosser, counsel for the ACLU of Northern California, urged the commission to support state legislation (SB 1286) to open disciplinary records statewide.
Other speakers stressed the need for concrete accountability measures, not just policy changes. "We need accountability — until officers understand there are consequences, training won't change practice," said a resident in public comment. Multiple callers asked the commission to adopt independent criminal investigations for officer-involved deaths, make use-of-force tracking public, and require automatic upload and secure storage of body-worn camera footage.
Several speakers opposed adoption of tasers. One commenter cited national cases and court awards to families of people who died after being tasered and warned the city of legal and human costs if conducted energy devices were authorized. Others urged investments in training, crisis-intervention teams and community policing rather than in additional weapons.
The meeting included administrative reports that intersected with the public's concerns: Chief Gregory P. and OCC Director Joyce Hicks summarized the mayor's budget proposal, which would devote a proposed $17.5 million over two years to violence prevention, reforms, equipment and oversight and includes $1.8 million proposed to staff the OCC. Director Hicks said the OCC is recruiting investigators and expected to fill senior investigator lists within 30 days; she also noted a proposed $250,000 allocation for transcription and investigative support.
The commission closed general public comment before moving to agenda items and later voted to hold an item in closed session and, after that session, voted not to disclose the closed-session discussion.
