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San Francisco Police chief unveils new command team and a sharper focus on homicides
Summary
Chief Fong introduced a retooled command staff Tuesday and outlined priorities that include homicide reduction, neighborhood-focused community policing and technology upgrades to improve crime analytics and case management.
San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong introduced a new command staff to the Police Commission on Jan. 16 and framed the leadership changes around an urgent effort to reduce homicides and improve neighborhood policing. The chief presented recent arrest work and said the department will emphasize implementation of new systems and accountability measures to track performance.
Assistant Chief Jim Lynch, who described 29 years as a peace officer and prior leadership at the airport bureau, told commissioners he would focus on professionalizing administrative systems, technology and implementation plans. "We have to be ahead of the curve," Lynch said when laying out priorities that include a new records-management rollout and an interim EIS (Enterprise Information System).
Commissioners pressed for a visible, neighborhood-level response to violent crime. Commissioner (President) Theresa Sparks and others asked for standardized community-policing practices across districts and called for regular neighborhood crime-statistics reporting. Chief Fong said the department is testing automated neighborhood maps and expects more timely reporting "very shortly." The chief also signaled closer collaboration with the mayor's office and other city agencies.
Deputy chiefs and commanders introduced operational goals tied to their new roles. Deputy Chief Steve Tocchini, assigned to field operations, said the department will use foot-patrol and district-boundary studies to set measurable goals for violent-crime reduction and to export successful tactics from one district to another. Commander Leroy Lindo, assigned as the housing-authority liaison, emphasized outreach and tenant safety in public housing.
Commissioners framed homicide reduction as a cross-city priority requiring the department to lead but also to partner with community groups, the mayor's office and the district attorney's office. The chief and command staff agreed that better data, consistent community communication and targeted enforcement against violent repeat offenders would be central to reducing homicides. The commission asked for follow-up reports on neighborhood crime statistics, technology implementation timelines and how the new command structure will free the chief to spend more time in the field.
The commission did not take formal votes on personnel matters at the meeting. The department scheduled further briefings and data updates to the commission in the coming months.
