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Police Commission votes 4–3 to postpone joint Board hearing to define community policing
Summary
The San Francisco Police Commission voted 4–3 to postpone a joint public hearing with the Board of Supervisors that had been scheduled to define 'community policing,' saying commissioners need time to review the proposed ordinance and to participate with a permanent police chief; President Thomas Mazuko will contact Supervisor David Campos to reschedule.
The San Francisco Police Commission voted 4–3 on March 2 to postpone a joint Board of Supervisors hearing that had been scheduled to define community policing.
President Thomas Mazuko moved to delay the joint meeting so commissioners could review the ordinance draft and so the commission could participate when a permanent police chief is in place. The motion followed a lengthy debate over process and timing; several commissioners said they wanted more time to prepare and to ensure the commission—s input, while others said cancelling a publicly noticed community event after outreach would be disrespectful.
Commissioner James Hammer proposed an amendment authorizing the president to negotiate with Supervisor David Campos and to avoid unilateral cancellation unless Campos agreed; that amendment failed on roll call. The commission then approved the postponement by roll call, 4–3. Commissioners recorded voting yes included President Thomas Mazuko and Vice President Dr. Joe Marshall; Commissioners Carol Kingsley and James Slaughter also voted yes. Commissioners Petra de Jesus, James Hammer and Angela Chan voted no.
Commissioners who supported postponement said the definition of community policing should be rolled out with leadership in place and with adequate internal discussion; those opposing postponement argued the Board of Supervisors had already scheduled community groups and that the commission should not withdraw after outreach.
President Mazuko said he would contact Supervisor Campos to reschedule the joint meeting for a mutually convenient date within three to four weeks and asked for authorization to negotiate scheduling without returning to the commission for routine calendar adjustments.
The vote came amid broader commission work on selecting a new police chief; several commissioners said they preferred to coordinate the community-policing conversation once chief selection was settled, to ensure executive leadership could participate.
