Comptroller-backed studies to reshape SFPD district boundaries and foot patrols; public outreach underway

Consultants with Public Safety Strategies Group told the San Francisco Police Commission on Wednesday that two comptroller‑overseen studies — a district station boundary analysis and a foot‑patrol pilot evaluation — are underway and will combine department records, facility assessments and community input to guide recommendations.

"We are here to talk about the 2 studies, the district station boundaries analysis and the foot patrol pilot evaluation," consultant Kim Craven said during a public presentation, outlining methods that include station visits, interviews with beat officers and consolidation of disparate police data into a single dataset for analysis.

Craven said the studies will evaluate call‑loading, response times and available resources at each station, then layer demographic and crime data to identify how boundaries and staffing could better match city needs. The team has interviewed more than 50 beat officers, visited each district station and identified roughly 30–35 community meetings as part of its outreach.

The engagement plan includes three public hearings, multiple written and online surveys for residents, businesses and officers, telephone surveys, and focus groups in October. Craven said survey instruments are available in English and will be posted in Chinese, Russian and Spanish; she also noted the project website, sfpolicereview.org, where materials and results will be posted.

An interim report is scheduled to be released publicly on Oct. 20, with a final report due in December and presentations planned for January, Craven said. Peg Stephenson from the comptroller's office confirmed the comptroller will coordinate the various studies and the office expects to consolidate findings for the commission and other stakeholders.

Commissioners pressed the consultants on outreach to underrepresented and immigrant communities, use of more recent demographic projections in addition to the 2000 census, and how recent captain reassignments might affect analysis. Craven said the team will document a chronology of transfers and account for operational changes in its final recommendations.

The consultants said they are coordinating with the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice and other city partners to avoid duplicative data requests and to ensure translated notices and community partners help broaden participation. Craven said more than 100 surveys in multiple languages have already been returned.

The studies were authorized by city legislation and overseen by the comptroller's office; the commission did not take action on the studies at the meeting but requested continued updates and public availability of interim findings.