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Police commission delays vote on proposed zero-tolerance alcohol policy for officers carrying firearms
Summary
The commission postponed a vote on proposed revisions to DGO 2.02 governing alcohol use by members; the proposal would set an "undetectable" threshold for officers carrying firearms and is scheduled for further discussion Dec. 3 after meetings with the POA.
The San Francisco Police Commission on Tuesday postponed a vote on revisions to Department General Order 2.02, which addresses alcohol use by officers on and off duty. The commission set a date certain of Dec. 3 to resume discussion after the Police Officers Association requested a meeting.
The proposed change would make "detectable/undetectable" alcohol the operative threshold rather than a statutory blood-alcohol number such as 0.02 or 0.08. "It seems to me, to defy logic that anyone would propose that a police officer have any detectable amount of alcohol in their system while they're carrying a firearm when they're off duty," the commission president said during the discussion.
Commissioner Yvonne Lee urged a strong standard. "Alcohol and guns, they just don't mix," she said, arguing a zero-tolerance message is needed to protect the public and officers. Commissioners debated whether a numerical cutoff is workable given variability in test timing and testing methods; commissioners also said observation of on-duty drinking or 'obnoxious conduct' may itself trigger discipline.
The commission voted to continue the matter to Dec. 3 to allow time for consultation with the POA and department staff. A fuller discussion and potential vote will be held at that subsequent meeting.
