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Residents press commission to fund Alemany/Bernal community‑policing pilot as budget review is deferred
Summary
Chief Fong outlined budget language proposing funding to continue a community‑policing pilot in public housing developments; residents and community groups urged continued and expanded funding for dedicated officers. Commissioners asked staff for more budget detail and continued consideration to a future meeting.
The San Francisco Police Commission took public testimony Feb. 14 on the department’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2007‑08 and a $250,000 line intended for policing programs in public housing developments. Chief Fong described the department’s proposal and a pilot in the Ingleside/Alemany area that has used department funding and community partnerships to place officers in targeted beats.
Chief Fong said $250,000 was set aside to support public‑housing programming across identified developments and that the department initially provided $30,000 to begin the Ingleside/Alemany pilot. She told the commission that captains would be able to propose how to use the funding in their districts and that the budget request includes funds to allow each captain to staff two officers daily for focused community policing where appropriate.
Residents and community leaders from Bernal Heights and the Alemany public housing development described tangible improvements they attribute to the pilot and urged continuing and expanding the funding. ‘‘There were 5 more robberies. I was robbed at gunpoint one week ago,’’ testified resident Bob Brundage; multiple speakers asked for more on‑duty, dedicated officers rather than temporary overtime details.
Supporters said the pilot involved a broad set of community partners — neighborhood centers, merchants and housing authority staff — and that the work included both social‑service strategies and law enforcement. ‘‘We have a working group that meets once every week or once every two weeks to coordinate strategies, that are both on the social service side and on the law enforcement side,’’ a Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center representative said.
Several commissioners said they lacked a full written packet necessary to evaluate a $300–$400 million budget and asked department budget staff to provide a detailed budget packet that spells out civilianization plans, recruiting, staffing, and how the department arrived at specific amounts. Commissioner Sparks urged that staff supply the materials so commissioners can meaningfully review the package before recommending any changes.
What’s next: The commission agreed to continue the budget discussion to allow staff and designated commissioners to meet and assemble a more comprehensive packet prior to the next commission hearing. Community advocates said they will continue pressing for dedicated on‑duty officers in the pilot areas.
