Patrol Special Officer Elbert Taylor to retire after failing firearms requalification; commission sets control date on sale of beat

The San Francisco Police Commission accepted a stipulated disposition and recorded the retirement of Patrol Special Officer Elbert Taylor after he failed a firearms requalification on July 20, 2012.

Department counsel Ashley Worsham said the department arranged requalification attempts for Taylor. "That test took place on July twentieth of the year 2012 at 1300 hours," Worsham said, and Taylor did not meet the minimum requirements to carry his firearm as a patrol special officer. Worsham said Taylor had previously agreed, verbally and in a letter from the chief, that failure to qualify would result in retirement effective that date.

Taylor told the commission he has served for roughly 30 years and confirmed he would abide by the agreement. Commissioners discussed whether any statutory deadline applied to the sale of his patrol special beat; the department said no specific legal timing requirement was known and noted prior practice has been to give departing patrol specials reasonable time to sell their beats.

The commission directed staff to place the matter on a control calendar to review progress on the sale and suggested a 90‑day reporting date to allow Taylor a realistic period to find a buyer. "So we'll put this on for 90 days," the Commission President said; the chair and chief offered thanks to Taylor for his lengthy service.

No disciplinary suspension or further transfer of duties was ordered; the record reflects a retirement/resignation under the terms Taylor accepted when he failed to requalify.