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Chief reports modest drop in violent crime; commission hears OIS backlog and FDRB schedule
Summary
The SFPD chief told the Police Commission violent crime is down slightly and that shots‑fired incidents and shooting victims have decreased; Internal Affairs Sergeant John Bridal reported 11 open OIS investigations and said several are awaiting district attorney declination letters, delaying Firearm Discharge Review Board reviews.
At the Aug. 22 San Francisco Police Commission meeting, the police chief reported modest declines in violent crime and described steps the department is taking on race reporting and community engagement, while the internal affairs officer who oversees officer‑involved incidents outlined an active caseload and procedural delays tied to the district attorney's declination letters.
The chief said overall violent crime remains "just under a percent" down, and credited targeted deployments and community efforts for declines in firearm‑related incidents: "shots fired are down 14 percent and shooting victims are down 15 percent," the chief said. He said the department appears to have "caught our breath" for the moment on fatal gun violence but urged continued focus.
On reporting and data, the chief explained the department sends traditional UCR race categories to DOJ but noted the department's internal systems can provide a more granular ethnicity breakout (including Hispanic/Latino categories) if the commission requests it. "We are reporting what we're being asked for," he said, but offered to provide more detailed ethnicity data via the department's crime data warehouse.
Sergeant John Bridal from Internal Affairs presented the Firearm Discharge Review Board and officer‑involved shooting (OIS) status: one prior OIS case has been completed and submitted to the commission, four new OIS cases were opened (12‑001 through 12‑004), and in total 11 OIS investigations were reported open. Bridal explained that completion of administrative reviews depends on receiving declination letters from the district attorney's office and that the format and depth of those letters have expanded, lengthening the review timetable. Because of pending criminal processes several FDRB presentations were delayed; the third‑quarter FDRB was scheduled for Sept. 20, 2012, pending completion of investigations.
Commissioners questioned whether the commission could prod the DA's office to speed declination letters; staff said the department and homicide investigators maintain contacts at the DA's office but that the more detailed letters now prepared by the DA require longer review.
No policy decisions were adopted tonight on the topics discussed; commissioners asked for follow‑up reports and for the chief to present ethnicity breakdown options per the commission's preference.
