SFPD names language liaison, outlines training and tools for limited-English callers

The San Francisco Police Commission heard a departmental update Sept. 19 on language-access work that affects residents with limited English proficiency. Police presented a series of operational steps — including a new language liaison officer, station audits and upcoming training — intended to make interpretation and language services more available across the city.

The department identified Officer Eric Chang as its new language liaison and said he recently transferred from the airport division. Sergeant Paul Yip told commissioners that station audits found language-line phones and interpreter signage in place, that forms were being supplied in the department's five core languages and that language-line cards had been distributed to officers for field use. "We've identified situations where that has been problematic in the past," Yip said, describing plans for roll-call training videos and scenario-based instruction to cover domestic-violence and other interactions with LEP residents.

Why it matters: Limited-English speakers can face delays or missed services, particularly in urgent cases such as domestic violence reports. Community advocates and the Office of Citizen Complaints (OCC) told the commission they view language access as a public-safety and equity issue, and they urged the department to move quickly to make training and contact points usable in the field.

The department said it is working with the Police Academy to add cultural-diversity and language-access content to training; a preliminary start date for PSA (police service aide) training was identified as January, though officials called that timeline fluid. The SFPD also reported it had requested and received approval to order digital audio recorders for field use and was reviewing IT/data-tracking systems so it can accurately report language-line usage. An annual language-access report for the city and federal compliance was noted as due in mid-December.

"These monthly meetings with community groups have been invaluable," said an OCC representative who highlighted the department's collaborative work with domestic-violence advocates and community organizations. Commissioners thanked staff for the progress and asked for regular updates and for a public contact point for the language liaison.

Next steps: the department will continue monthly coordination with community groups, finalize roll-call training materials, continue the station audits and complete data tracking ahead of the mid-December report. The commission asked staff to provide written timelines and to circulate draft training materials to commissioners for review.