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Commission approves $25,000 Fish and Game grant for SFPD marine oil‑spill equipment
Summary
The Police Commission approved the San Francisco Police Department's acceptance of a $25,000 California Department of Fish and Game grant to buy boom and other oil‑spill response equipment for coordinated waterfront coverage with the Port and Fire Department; motion passed without objection.
The San Francisco Police Commission on May 20 unanimously approved the Police Department's request to apply for, accept and expend a $25,000 grant from the California Department of Fish and Game to purchase oil‑spill response equipment for the marine unit.
Sergeant Danny Lopez, officer in charge of the marine unit, told the commission the grant is part of a coordinated city response with the Port of San Francisco and the Fire Department and would buy boom and related containment gear to protect waterfront areas such as Aquatic Park, Pier 39 and Pier 45.
"They are making $25,000 available through a grant for oil spill prevention," Lopez said, adding that SFPD responded to the Costco Busan spill and lacked equipment to place boom quickly in sensitive areas.
Commissioners asked why the police were first responders for environmental incidents; Lopez and others explained response necessarily involves multiple city agencies and that the police are often the quickest unit with boat capability in some parts of the waterfront.
A motion to accept and expend the grant was moved and seconded and approved "without objection," with the Commission ordering the department to coordinate equipment placement and response roles with Port and Fire Department partners.
Next step: The department will accept the funds and deploy equipment through an interagency plan for waterfront coverage.
