Police commission adopts hearing officer procedures for disciplinary cases

The San Francisco Police Commission voted unanimously to adopt procedures enabling the use of hearing officers in police disciplinary cases, the panel announced after a roll-call vote.

Commissioner Petra de Jesus urged swift adoption of the rules, saying the proposed procedures had been revised to clarify the hearing officer's authority and to preserve commissioners'final review of dispositive motions. The commission moved and seconded the measure and, after a recorded roll call that named Commissioners Lee, Marshall and Veronese as voting "aye," the vice president said the motion "passes unanimously."

The adopted procedures were described during the meeting as standard rules that streamline the disciplinary process and were developed in consultation with the Office of the City Attorney and bargaining representatives. John Tennant, general counsel for the San Francisco Police Officers Association, told the commission the POA had met and conferred on the draft and supported its swift passage, saying the procedures would help move contract negotiations and internal processes forward.

Commissioner de Jesus identified a change clarifying that a hearing officer may make an initial determination on certain motions but that such determinations can be brought to the full commission for final adjudication. Commissioners stressed they wanted to retain ultimate control over dispositive actions.

The commission also discussed funding for the program, noting earlier delays in securing necessary funds and staff said they were seeking to restore or confirm funding to implement the new procedures.

The commission recorded the motion as adopted and reassigned several disciplinary cases in related announcements during the same meeting; commissioners said they would publish the updated procedures and proceed with implementation steps.