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Community groups urge support for SFPD staffing as commission removes budget items pending mayoral talks
Summary
Speakers at the Police Commission meeting urged funding to address staffing deficits, warning community policing could erode; commissioners removed budget items from the evening agenda pending a meeting between the chief, OCC director and the mayor's office.
Community representatives urged the Police Commission on Feb. 15 to support expanded SFPD staffing and civilianization of some positions to preserve community policing as the department faces retirements and limited academy classes.
Robert Gee, vice president of the Maryknoll Park Improvement Club, speaking for more than 600 members, said the department risked falling below city‑charter mandated staffing levels and that community policing would "erode" without more recruits. He said hundreds of experienced officers were due to retire and swore only roughly 30 new academy graduates would be brought on in the near term.
The commission opened the meeting by noting several budget items would be removed from the evening’s agenda because the chief and the Office of Citizen Complaint director were meeting the mayor’s office the next day to seek revised numbers. Commissioner statements and public comment emphasized the importance of funding for recruiting and for civilianizing roles currently filled by sworn officers.
No vote on budget items occurred at the meeting; commissioners said they expected further discussion after the mayor's office meeting.
