Taxi drivers and community advocates press Police Commission on citations, OCC responsiveness and community policing

Multiple members of the public used the Jan. 6 comment period to raise concerns about enforcement and complaint handling and to urge stronger neighborhood relations.

Amir Lawrence, who identified himself as a San Francisco taxi driver, told the commission the industry is "under assault" by citations from SFPD and the Department of Parking and Traffic and said a police officer had his license canceled and listed as a criminal complaint on his DMV record, leaving him without income. "My license was canceled by a police officer. I haven't had any income in 10 days," Lawrence said.

Sharon Hewitt, executive director of the Community Leadership Academy and Emergency Response Project, commended the city’s reported reduction in homicides but emphasized that sustained reductions result from collaboration among local agencies and community organizations. Hewitt and other speakers urged continued funding and partnership during a challenging budget process.

OCC Director Joyce Hicks reported the OCC opened 1,018 cases in 2009 and sustained allegations in 53 cases. She said there were 366 pending cases (362 from 2009, four opened in 2010), and that OCC would provide a more detailed statistical report at a later date.

Commissioners acknowledged the public concerns and asked staff to provide budget materials ahead of the next department budget presentation so commissioners could develop informed priorities. The commission also heard a departmental third-quarter document-protocol report showing 282 OCC-related document requests in the quarter and 263 timely completions; a small number of requests were late and the department has adjusted its reporting processes.

Next steps: commissioners requested written budget materials and further OCC data ahead of the budget presentation; members of the public said they would continue to follow up on individual complaints.