Police Commission schedules five public meetings to shape next chief search

The San Francisco Police Commission announced plans to hold five public meetings in the last two weeks of February to solicit input from neighborhoods and stakeholders on criteria for the next police chief and said it has retained executive search firm Murray and Associates to support the search.

The commission said meetings will be held in Visitation Valley, Bayview Hunters Point, the Richmond District and the Mission neighborhood, with a faith‑based meeting scheduled for Feb. 25 at Saint Mary’s Cathedral. The commission said exact locations and dates will be posted on its website when finalized and that staff will distribute flyers to neighborhood groups to encourage turnout.

Commission representatives told the meeting they will also invite police employee groups, including the Police Officers Association, and civilian employee groups such as SEIU to provide input. The commission said it has met with POA leadership, including Gary Delaney, and expects to finalize a contract with Murray and Associates within about a week to 10 days before beginning the search.

The outreach plan follows the commission’s stated goal of developing a candidate profile and selection criteria that reflect community values and to give residents multiple opportunities to comment in person. The commission asked listeners to monitor its website for notices about venues and times.

No formal votes were taken on the search schedule during the public announcement.

The commission said additional briefings and a fuller report on the search process will be provided at a future meeting.