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Police commissioners reject SFPD budget proposal, urge restoration of academy classes
Summary
The San Francisco Police Commission voted 4–1 on Feb. 22, 2012, to reject the SFPD's proposed FY2012–13 budget that follows a mayoral 5% cut mandate and includes no academy classes; commissioners said the staffing shortfall threatens public safety and asked city leaders to restore hiring.
The San Francisco Police Commission voted 4–1 on Feb. 22, 2012, to reject the Police Departmentbudget submission for FY201213, saying the mayor's directive to hold 5% cuts that eliminated planned academy classes would leave the department understaffed.
Captain John Goldberg, presenting the department's two‑year proposal, said the mayor's office directed a 5% reduction each year that, as submitted, funds no academy classes for the coming two fiscal years and requires additional overtime funding to cover high‑profile events. Goldberg said the department included an extra $1.5 million in overtime for large public‑safety events and proposed an estimated $13.5 million two‑year capital amount for outfitting the new police headquarters.
Commissioners pressed the department on staffing projections. The presentation showed a path in which the department could fall roughly 400 officers short of the 1971 charter mandated full‑duty staffing by June 2014 if no classes are added. Commissioner Slaughter said he "can't support a budget today that doesn't take that into account," and several other commissioners said a rejection was intended as a policy signal to the mayor and Board of Supervisors.
After public comment and discussion about the charter role of the commission in approving department budgets, the commission voted to withhold approval. The roll‑call result was recorded as 4–1 in favor of rejecting the department's submission; one commissioner voted to approve as presented.
The vote does not itself change the mayor's office instructions or the budget the mayor will present to the Board of Supervisors. Commissioners said they expected follow‑up negotiations and urged the chief and department leadership to continue working with the mayor's office and board to restore funding for academy classes so the city can sustain staffing levels.
Next steps: The commission will transmit its disapproval and policy concerns to the mayor and Board of Supervisors as the municipal budget process continues.
