Police Commission urges support for state bill to allow public disciplinary hearings; resolution adopted

The San Francisco Police Commission on a unanimous voice vote adopted a resolution urging the city’s legislative leaders to back state legislation (Senate Bill 1019, authored by Sen. Gloria Romero) that would allow civilian oversight agencies to hold certain peace‑officer disciplinary hearings in public if the state law is changed.

The resolution, as amended at the meeting, states that if SB 1019 "passes and is signed into law," the commission is committed to conducting disciplinary hearings in public to help preserve public confidence by demonstrating that officers who commit misconduct are held accountable. Commissioners debated the final wording to make clear any public hearings would be conducted only to the extent allowed by state law.

Commissioner David Campos framed the motion as a way to put the commission on record in support of overturning constraints imposed by the Copley case: he said the resolution "notes that if the law is changed, we as a commission are committed to having an open process if that change occurs." Other commissioners urged careful phrasing to avoid promising procedures that a future statute might not permit; deputy city counsel confirmed the amendment reading "if passed and signed into law" would limit the commitment to whatever the enacted legislation allows.

After a motion to adopt the amended resolution and a second, the chair called for the vote. The record shows 22 affirmative "Aye" vocal responses at the roll call. The commission did not register any recorded 'No' votes on the measure during the meeting.

The resolution will be transmitted to the mayor’s office and the Board of Supervisors and referenced during state‑level hearings on the bill.