SFPD tells Police Commission homicides down 52% in six‑month review, credits zone strategy and staffing

At a July 15 Police Commission meeting, San Francisco Police Department leaders told commissioners that homicides in the first six months of 2009 fell 52% compared with the same period the previous year and that Part I crimes declined overall.

Deputy Chief Cashman and Commander Murphy — presenting a six‑month review covering the period ending June 30 — described multiple contributors to the declines, including the department—s zone‑based violence reduction plan, higher staffing levels in district stations, increased community cooperation and partnerships with federal and local agencies. "We've had a substantial decrease in crime in almost every major category," Cashman said during the presentation.

The report highlighted specific figures cited by presenters: a 52% drop in homicides for the six‑month window, a 15% decline in robbery, a 6% decrease in aggravated assault, a 13% decline in larceny, a 17% decline in motor‑vehicle theft and a 7% decline in arson. Command staff also reported a 31% decrease in nonfatal shootings over a three‑year comparison that included the enforcement period starting February 2008.

Presenters described the violence reduction plan as informed by a prior academic study (presented in the report as findings from "Doctor Anthony Barraga"), which showed that a small number of offenders and a concentrated set of neighborhoods account for a large share of gun violence. The department divided the city into five zones and focused enforcement, probation and community resources on the most affected areas. "The bottom line is violent crime is extremely concentrated," the presentation said.

Deputy Chief Shin reviewed homicide investigations and clearance practices, saying the department had increased homicide clearances and attributed the improvement to expanded staffing, multi‑agency coordination, the use of a 72‑hour homicide roundtable and more witnesses coming forward. "When we have that eyewitness that comes forward, that really helps," Shin said.

The presenters noted changes in the types of guns seized: about 80% of seizures are handguns, with a reported 33% decrease in revolver seizures and a 10% increase in semi‑automatic handgun seizures year‑over‑year. Command staff linked the increase in semi‑automatics and large‑capacity magazines to incidents where multiple victims were wounded in single shootings.

Commissioners pressed for clearer incident accounting: several asked the department to provide a breakdown of "incidents" versus "victims" to avoid double counting events that involve both fatal and nonfatal victims. The department agreed to supply charts that separate the number of shooting incidents from victim counts and to include zone‑level incident comparisons.

Commissioners and staff also discussed sustainability concerns: members warned that staffing reductions through retirements and frozen recruit classes could erode the gains. "We need to continue our efforts. We don't want to get complacent," a deputy chief said, adding that a decline in staffing could reverse progress.

The commission was told an 18‑month report on the zone strategy is expected in mid‑August and that the department will continue to refine tactics including fugitive recovery enforcement and nightclub enforcement at late‑night hours.

The presentation concluded with commissioners thanking command staff for the analysis and asking for further data on incident counts, clearance timing and demographic breakdowns of victims and offenders. The commission scheduled follow‑up material and the 18‑month report for the next reporting cycle.