San Francisco unveils Fair and Impartial Policing rollout, community advisory board formed

Dr. Laurie Friedel told the San Francisco Police Commission on Aug. 6 that the city's Fair and Impartial Policing project has moved into implementation, with a community advisory board and grant-funded training under development.

Friedel, who authored a report with 28 recommendations, said the advisory board will continue to meet and has begun work on policy clarification, training and community outreach. She said the project has received a Department of Justice grant to develop a supplemental training module addressing unconscious bias that the city hopes will be used nationally. "This will provide the substance for the supplemental module for the academy training in the San Francisco Police Department," she said.

The project's priorities include clarifying department policy on when race, ethnicity or nationality can be used in policing decisions; adding supervisory training that helps sergeants and lieutenants spot and address biased behavior; strengthening accountability mechanisms such as early-intervention systems and performance evaluations; and reviewing recruitment, background checks and promotional practices to improve diversity at higher ranks.

Friedel said the Community Advisory Board will pilot outreach focus groups this fall (youth, a predominately Asian community and Tenderloin) to test messaging and gather public input. She cautioned that data collection, such as vehicle-stop race/ethnicity records, carries costs and analytic limits and said the advisory board and chief will return to the commission with a recommendation on whether and how to continue or expand those efforts.

Commissioners pressed Friedel on how community members will remain engaged after the current contract ends and asked for outreach materials to explain changes to the public. Chief Fong and other department officials said SFPD staff are participating in advisory-board meetings and training development.

Greg Murphy of POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) and several community members present praised the initiative and said San Francisco's work could influence other jurisdictions. The commission requested follow-up briefings on data collection design, psychological testing review and plans for sustained community engagement.

The commission closed the presentation by thanking Friedel and asking the reporter and department to return with more specific proposals on data systems, auditing and community education materials.