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Chief details homicide responses, cadet program and outreach as part of department's public-safety push
Summary
SFPD Chief told the Police Commission the department is increasing enforcement around schools, launching outreach and a cadet program, and expanding investigative capacity after recent homicides; she urged public tips to a confidential hotline and described new cold-case staffing.
San Francisco's police leadership told the Police Commission it is stepping up multiple initiatives after a recent cluster of homicides and as the school year begins.
Chief Fong reported the department has intensified traffic enforcement around schools and is coordinating with the MTA, the Department of Parking and Traffic and the school district to improve student safety. She announced a Public Safety Career Expo on Treasure Island to promote recruitment across multiple agencies and said monthly police testing is seeing high turnout; the department expects to accept cadet applications Sept. 7'21 for a pilot cadet program intended to hire at least 14 cadets by February.
Addressing a recent rise in homicides, the chief said many incidents appear to be spontaneous or family-related rather than patterned gang violence, prompting the department to coordinate proactive interventions with juvenile probation and the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. She urged residents with information to use the department's confidential tip line: "the confidential tip line is 575-4444." The department also uses flyers and door-knocking in affected districts and said that community-based outreach is a priority.
Captain Kevin Cashman and the chief described investigative changes intended to accelerate case work: the homicide unit added three inspectors while creating a stand-alone cold-case unit that includes two full-time inspectors and three part-time retired inspectors, a structure the department says speeds forensic analysis and follow-up arrests.
Commissioners raised questions about where homicides are occurring, whether patterns are emerging and how the department will keep communities informed. The chief and Captain Cashman said the department will provide briefings and share prior presentations on clearance rates and investigative approaches with the commission.
Next steps: the department will continue neighborhood outreach, provide additional presentations to the commission on investigative methods, and move forward on cadet recruitment and the Treasure Island expo.
