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Commission hears broad community support for DGO 5.2 language-access plan; vote deferred
Summary
City departments, immigrant-rights groups and the police department presented and largely supported Department General Order 5.2 to provide free language assistance and a language liaison; commissioners pressed for training details and the final vote was deferred after roll call began.
The San Francisco Police Commission took up Department General Order 5.2 on Oct. 17, a sweeping language-access policy that requires officers to provide free interpretation to limited-English-proficiency (LEP) individuals, establishes a language liaison officer, mandates data collection on primary languages in police reports, and prescribes training and certification for interpreters and bilingual officers.
Sergeant Julie Lynch and Chief Fong described the policy27s legal basis (Title VI and federal grant requirements) and implementation steps, noting that SFPD already translates many forms into Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Russian and has trained officers on telephone-interpretation cards. The department said it will pursue scenario-based training to be rolled into the academy within about six months and that signage and translated materials are already being posted.
Dozens of community organizations and officials — including Edwin Lee (City Administrator), representatives from the Immigrant Rights Commission, the Department on the Status of Women, the Asian Law Caucus, Chinatown advocacy groups and juvenile-justice advocates — urged adoption. Common requests included prompt appointment of a language liaison, meaningful community oversight, public outreach in multiple languages and clear data reporting to the commission.
The Police Officers Association and some officers endorsed the DGO27s goals but warned that the department must ensure adequate training and resources before strict enforcement to avoid officers being unfairly charged for noncompliance. Questions were raised about how 911 dispatch and outside agencies (CHP) interface with the policy.
Commissioner Campos moved to adopt DGO 5.2 and Commissioner DeJesus seconded; a roll call was initiated but the meeting then returned to the chief27s report and no final recorded vote appears in the transcript. Commissioners and department staff committed to continued community involvement during implementation and to return with training materials and monitoring plans.
