Police commission approves three pilot cameras at Haight and Webster after heated public debate

The San Francisco Police Commission on April 3 approved installation of three community safety cameras at the corner of Haight and Webster, voting that the locations are experiencing substantial crime and that potential deterrent benefits outweigh community concerns.

Lenore Anderson, director of the mayor’s office of criminal justice, told the commission the office recommends three cameras for Haight and Webster and that the placement is driven by community requests and recent patterns of crime. "We would like to install the cameras in this location 3 cameras in this location, and those cameras would be used in alignment with the policies and procedures that have already been outlined," Anderson said, adding the office will provide a six‑month progress report and commission‑mandated evaluations.

Supervisor Ross Mercurini, whose District 5 includes the site, said he pushed to have the location added to the pilot and urged the commission to expedite the installation for that neighborhood. "I still want to give the benefit of the doubt and as much relief to our crime‑impacted neighborhoods," Mercurini said, while acknowledging that "the jury is still out" on whether cameras definitively reduce crime.

Public commenters were sharply divided. Mark Schlossberg of the ACLU of Northern California urged the commission to "wait for the 6 month evaluation to be done," citing studies that showed little or no deterrent effect from cameras and raising privacy concerns. Local residents told commissioners they prefer prevention programs and more foot patrols over surveillance; one resident said surveillance felt "oppressive" and urged community‑based prevention instead.

Commissioners repeatedly pressed staff about evidence and evaluation methods. Anderson presented SFPD incident counts for the area: 93 reported offenses within 100 feet in 2006, 167 within 300 feet and 388 within 500 feet, and noted a double homicide near the corner on Jan. 14, 2007. Staff and DTIS representatives clarified that the camera design in this installation offers identification range of roughly 100 feet for reliable identification and that San Francisco does not use live monitoring for the cameras.

During deliberations Commissioner Yvonne Lee moved — and Commissioner Petra de Jesus seconded — a motion that the commission find the location meets statutory criteria, approve the installation of three community safety cameras at Haight and Webster, and require DTIS to disable cameras during permitted parades or demonstrations that would otherwise be captured. Vice President David Campos, Commissioner Petra de Jesus, Commissioner Joe Marshall and Commissioner Theresa Sparks voted in favor; the chair announced the motion carried.

The commission emphasized the action is part of a broader strategy that includes increased foot patrols, lighting improvements and a citywide violence‑prevention plan. The mayor’s office will return with the six‑month report and a separate year‑long evaluation contract funded through an RFP to assess outcomes and possible displacement or dispersion effects.

The cameras are scheduled to be installed as part of the pilot; the commission did not approve an additional camera at Seventh and Market tonight and left that site for continued consideration. The commission's decision includes reporting requirements the mayor’s office accepted for evaluation and public reporting back to the police commission.