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Chief reports audit, homicide figures and buyback results; commission vows focus on reducing gun violence
Summary
San Francisco's police chief told the commission that an internal audit found thousands of unsynchronized reports and that homicide figures rose to 67 for 2012 (45 involving guns); commissioners praised a recent gun buyback and proposed community engagement to reduce gun violence.
At its Dec. 19 meeting the San Francisco Police Commission heard a year‑end report from Chief Gregory Pease that included an audit of the department's crime data and updates on training, promotions and recent gun‑reduction activity.
The chief told commissioners that as the department improved its technology it discovered a reporting gap: approximately 8,000 police reports had not been scanned into CompStat. "I ordered an immediate audit of all of our numbers," he said, acknowledging the scans would raise year‑to‑date statistical totals but asserting the department was working to reconcile and correct the record.
On homicides, the chief said the city recorded 67 deaths in 2012; when Commissioner Kingsley asked how many involved guns the chief replied, "45." Commissioners expressed sorrow and used the moment to propose a sharper local focus on gun violence in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut, shootings.
Commissioner Kingsley proposed the commission organize a community meeting to solicit public input and convene law enforcement and other city agencies to develop measures to reduce gun violence. "I propose that this commission, commit to expending some time and energy and effort ... to reduce gun violence in San Francisco," she said. The chief and commissioners agreed to coordinate presentations and community outreach.
The chief also described a recent regional gun buyback that drew far larger participation than expected. He said the department collected "163 handguns, 68 rifles, 25 shotguns, and countless rounds of ammunition" in San Francisco; Oakland recovered roughly 300 guns the same day for an estimated Bay Area total of about 600 firearms removed that weekend. Commissioners and community partners, including Omega Boys and Girls Club, were credited for organizing and staffing the event.
The commission also acknowledged two officers who saved a child's life and said they would be brought before the commission for life‑saving awards in January. Chief Pease announced promotions affecting 8 captains, 15 lieutenants and 29 sergeants.
What happens next: Commissioners asked the department to present community meetings and a public forum on gun violence and school safety; the commission closed the meeting by honoring victims of the Newtown shooting and the 45 local residents who died from gun violence in 2012.
Representative quotes on record:
"I ordered an immediate audit of all of our numbers and we discovered that when we changed over approximately 8,000 police reports hadn't been scanned in for purposes of CompStat," Chief Pease said.
"45 involved gun violence," the chief said when asked to clarify the homicide figures.
"I propose that this commission, commit to expending some time and energy and effort ... to reduce gun violence in San Francisco," Commissioner Kingsley said.
