Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Asiana Crash Response topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Chief reports on Asiana Flight 214 response and recent crime trends
Summary
Chief Gregory Peasey told the commission that SFPD officers were among first responders at the Asiana Flight 214 incident, credited officers with saving lives and reported that overall gun violence this year was down though recent weeks had been difficult in some neighborhoods.
Chief Gregory Peasey updated the San Francisco Police Commission on July 10 about recent incidents and department activity, including the department’s response to the Asiana Flight 214 aircraft that came in short of the runway.
The chief recounted that airport officers and other units were among the first at the scene of the aircraft event and that officers entered the smoking aircraft and assisted with freeing passengers. "Their actions absolutely saved lives," the chief said when describing officers such as Jeff Brown, Jim Cunningham and Derek Lee who assisted passengers and facilitated evacuations. The chief also noted that some victims remain hospitalized and that department personnel coordinated with the Mayor’s Office and Asiana leadership in the aftermath.
On crime statistics, the chief said overall gun violence this year was down about 7 percent and homicides were down almost 50 percent compared with the previous year, but acknowledged that June was the department's worst month so far for gun violence and that certain neighborhoods (including Bayview) continued to experience recent incidents. Commissioners asked about protective equipment for officers in smoke and gas environments; the chief said officers generally have dust‑type masks but that full SCBA equipment is part of specialized tactical training and was not available to officers on that occasion.
Commissioners praised the department’s multitasked response during a busy holiday weekend that included Pride events and other public gatherings. The chief closed by noting upcoming department outreach (academy graduations and PAL cadet graduations) and the commission indicated it plans to bring involved officers forward for certificates of appreciation.
The account the chief presented to the commission focused on operational response and coordination; no disciplinary or policy actions were announced in relation to the Asiana crash at this meeting.
